Citizen Scientist Spots Earth-like Planet — Now Astrophysicists Will Focus Telescopes on It

A citizen scientist participating in NASA's Planet Patrol project spotted something professional astronomers had missed: an Earth-like planet in a star's habitable zone. The discovery demonstrates the power of crowdsourced science.

The planet orbits its star at a distance that could allow liquid water to exist on its surface. Now, astrophysicists are turning the most powerful telescopes toward this world to learn more about its atmosphere and potential for life. This discovery shows how everyday people can contribute to groundbreaking scientific research.

“The discovery demonstrates the power of crowdsourced science.”