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An artist's impression of the planet. AP

New Earth-like planet found where a year lasts just under 10 days

The announcement was made by a team using an observatory in Chile.

ASTRONOMERS HAVE DISCOVERED a close new world about the size of Earth, where a year lasts just under 10 days.

At a distance of 11 light-years, Ross 128 b is the second-closest planet to be detected yet outside our solar system with surface temperatures potentially similar to ours.

Ross 128 b is very near its star, thus the short orbit. But it doesn’t get broiled because the red dwarf star is cool. The star is also quiet, meaning no radiation flare-ups. That’s encouraging news for seekers of extraterrestrial life. The planet is believed to border the so-called habitable zone.

A team led by the University of Grenoble Alps’ Xavier Bonfils made the discovery using La Silla Observatory in Chile.

Co-discoverer Nicola Astudillo-Defru from the Geneva Observatory in Switzerland told BBC News:

“…we still need to know what the atmosphere of Ross 128 b is like. Depending on its composition and the reflectivity of its clouds, the exoplanet may be life friendly with liquid water as the Earth, or sterile like Venus.”

NASA’s exoplanet – planets outside of our solar system – count stands at 3,550.

Read: In major announcement, Nasa confirms seven Earth-like planets have been discovered>

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    Mute Football in the Groin
    Favourite Football in the Groin
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    Mar 26th 2019, 1:12 PM

    It takes a special kind of cowardly scu m to leave a toddler for dead. Delighted he’s doing ok now.

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    Mute Larry Whack
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    Mar 26th 2019, 2:13 PM

    @Football in the Groin: Absolutely. The lowest of the low.

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    Mute Mac Dara Powell
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    Mar 26th 2019, 1:09 PM

    Great news.

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    Mute Dan
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    Mar 26th 2019, 1:19 PM

    Hopefully one of the drivers friends/mates will inform the garda on who it is, they should understand what this person did…Need to take people like this off the road ….spineless

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    Mute tommytukamomo
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    Mar 26th 2019, 1:20 PM

    Hope the child makes a full and speedy recovery, as for the driver…. I genuinely hope for and wish the worst of everything on him/her.

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    Mute Angela O'regan
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    Mar 26th 2019, 6:38 PM

    @tommytukamomo: I hope the boy recover, and I would not like if that was my son having to live with this for the rest of his life,and I wouldn’t want a son like him.

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    Mute Alan O Reilly
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    Mar 26th 2019, 1:19 PM

    Brilliant news,poor little lad.

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    Mute Roy Dowling
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    Mar 26th 2019, 1:11 PM

    Delighted

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    Mute John Kelly
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    Mar 26th 2019, 1:25 PM

    I can feel the relief coming out through the screen… phew

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    Mute john
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    Mar 26th 2019, 3:23 PM

    That’s the best news that I have heard all day and I was having a bad ole day now it has just brightened up. I hope who ever was driving that car set her you panicked or what state you were in, do the honourable thing and hand yourself Into your local authorities so that you can try and ask for forgiveness from the parents which I doubt you will get the longer you leave it the worse it will be for you.
    If you are a human being at all you will do the right thing. I am so happy this little boy is ok because the exact same thing happened to me a hit and run left me with a broken leg crushed hand that I can barly write with and it was only by sheer luck that he was caught it was 13 months later. He received 5 years in jail.
    I got a nice sum but I’d give it back in the morning to be able to have 100% mobility. Ah well I’m thrilled this little warrior is ok.

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    Mute samstheman
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    Mar 26th 2019, 1:47 PM

    That’s one tough, brave kid

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    Mute john
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    Mar 26th 2019, 2:13 PM

    Great news what a s#um bag hope they find him

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    Mute Barra O Brien
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    Mar 26th 2019, 1:45 PM

    @Jodi: Have a word with yourself, there is no justification for hitting a toddler or anyone for that matter and leaving the scene.

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    Mute Windom Earle
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    Mar 26th 2019, 6:14 PM

    Great news alas suspended sentence on the way. If he did 3 years I’d be surprised.

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    Mute niamh ryan
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    Mar 26th 2019, 7:10 PM

    @Windom Earle: it’s a teenager so I would imagine free legal aid, a hard up bringing sob story and an out of touch judge will lead to him somehow being the victim

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    Mute LD
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    Mar 26th 2019, 7:38 PM

    @niamh ryan: Niamh and Windom please do enlighten us as to what course of action you would take? Or do you both just do the finger pointing?

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    Mute Sarah Fuller
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    Mar 26th 2019, 2:57 PM

    So relieved to hear this, I have a 3 yr old myself and I have been thinking about the poor wee lad and his family since I heard the news. There are no words to describe the s#um that hit him and left him for dead. May they never know a minute’s peace.

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    Mute Conor Grennan
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    Mar 26th 2019, 5:04 PM

    Delighted! Speedy recovery and best wishes.

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    Mute Barry O Toole
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    Mar 26th 2019, 5:37 PM

    Best wishes to the young man and his family

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    Mute ParSim
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    Mar 26th 2019, 7:08 PM

    Sure it’s their culture!

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    Mute Ave Maria Tubridy
    Favourite Ave Maria Tubridy
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    Mar 26th 2019, 5:59 PM

    Glad hes doing well. A tough little boy. A 17yr old Male has been arrested.

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    Mute Terry Cahill
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    Mar 26th 2019, 6:43 PM

    Does anyone read the actual story reported. The suspect is in custody . Best wishes to the little fella.

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    Mute Sarah Fuller
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    Mar 26th 2019, 7:00 PM

    @Terry Cahill: the story was only updated 45 mins ago with this information, people are responding to the earlier version if the story which said the little lad was in a stable condition

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    Mute Brian Flavin
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    Mar 26th 2019, 4:13 PM

    Great news recovery speed and hope Gardai catch Arrest driver coward

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    Mute Ted Murray
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    Mar 26th 2019, 8:45 PM

    I await with eager anticipation to read the driver’s résumé, and other relevant facts.

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    Mute Dominic Leleu
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    Mar 26th 2019, 2:32 PM

    Great news. I hope they will catch that ass#ole

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    Mute Pat Byrne
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    Mar 26th 2019, 7:06 PM

    Great news to hear the little boy is on the mend, hope the law deals severely with the culprits

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    Mute Dino Manning
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    Mar 26th 2019, 7:16 PM

    Driver should not have left the accident but accident should never have happened.

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    Mute LD
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    Mar 26th 2019, 7:40 PM

    @Dino Manning: I’m guessing you were there at the scene to be so sure about what should and shouldn’t have happened Dino?

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    Mute Padraic Forde
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    Mar 26th 2019, 9:52 PM

    He’s in a great place in temple st. Let’s hope he makes a full recovery.

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    Mute Brian Flavin
    Favourite Brian Flavin
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    Mar 26th 2019, 9:36 PM

    Fantastic well done Gardai Arrest Driver Coward and toddler recovery speed

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