Earth-sized planet a rare discovery, scientists say

A planet has been discovered outside our solar system that is close to Earth in size — far different, scientists say, from the behemoths they have previously seen.

The scientists, who are attending a conference in Hatfield, England, said Tuesday that a planet less than twice the size of Earth has been located in a solar system outside our own.

As many as 300 so-called exoplanets — or planets outside our solar system — have been discovered, but most are much larger than Earth.

Scientist Xavier Bonfils of the Grenoble Observatory in France told the BBC the new planet is the least massive exoplanet ever detected.

Researcher Michel Mayor said the new planet is probably too hot for human life because it sits very close to the sun-like star it orbits.

Mayor made the announcement at a press conference during the European Week of Astronomy and Space Science.