Astronomers Spot "2nd Earth" Forming

via Space.com

Astronomers utilzing NASA's Spitzer Telescope have spotted a planetary disk around a star 424 light years from Earth that seems to be undergoing the process of forming planets. The exciting news is that this protoplanet dust area is apparently forming within the star's habitable zone, where the temperature would allow liquid water to exist on a planet after it develops.

"The dust belt, which scientists suspect is clumping together to form planets, is located in the middle of the star system's terrestrial habitable zone where temperatures are moderate enough to sustain liquid water. Scientists estimate there is enough material in the belt to form a Mars-sized world or larger. At approximately 10 million years old, the star is just the right age for forming rocky planets, the researchers say."

A younger star system the protoplanetary disk would consist more of gases that would most likely form a Jupiter type gas giant, while an older system would already have the planets formed into stable orbits. The dust cloud also appears to have the right chemical composition to form a terrestrial type rocky planet.