I almost missed this one in the news. Bet you did too.

Astronomers find Earth-like planet

Here are the details: Why wasn't this front page worthy?

Name: Gliese 581c or G-581c
Description: Gliese 581c [ˈgliːzə] is an extrasolar planet orbiting the red dwarf star Gliese 581. The 'c ' identifies it as the third planet out from the star/sun Gliese. It appears that Gliese 581c is in the "habitable zone" of a star, where the surface temperatures might maintain liquid water and therefore be suitable for life as we know it. Gliese 581 c has an orbital period ("year") of 13 Earth days. The planet is astronomically close to earth, at 20.5 light years (193,812,226,587,504 kilometres/ 120,429,334,304,850 miles) in the direction of the constellation of Libra. This would make it the 87th closest star system.

Because of its temperature and relative proximity, this planet will most probably be a very important target of the future space missions dedicated to the search for extra-terrestrial life. One scientist said, "On the treasure map of the universe, one would be tempted to mark this planet with an X". Several astronomers have suggested that Gliese 581c's earthlike properties and its closeness (20.5 light-years away) would make it a potential target for any future interstellar probe project.

The discovery of the planet by a team of the Geneva Observatory in Switzerland was announced on April 24, 2007. And published in the Anderson paper on the 27th.

Where do I sign up to visit. Trouble is that at 60 mph it would take you what...12,007,105,570,247 1/2 hours. or more or less 500,296,065,427 days that's 1,370,674,151 years and 8 1/2 months non-stop. 1.3 Million Years !!!!! Well that is close by.

Better get started

If you care :
Parent star Star Gliese 581
Constellation Libra
Right ascension (α) 15h 19m 26s
Declination (δ) −07° 43′ 20″
Spectral type M2.5V
Orbital elements
Semimajor axis (a) 0.073[1] AU
Eccentricity (e) 0.16±0.07[1]
Orbital period (P) 12.93[1] d
Inclination (i) ?°
Longitude of
periastron (ω) ?°
Time of periastron (τ) ? JD
Physical characteristics
Mass (m) > 5 ME
Radius (r) ~1.5[2] RE
Density (ρ) ? kg/m3
Temperature (T) ~290 K