The newfound world, about the size of Jupiter, is 3,700 light-years from Earth.
San Diego: Astronomers say they have discovered the largest planet outside the solar system that orbits two suns. The newfound world, about the size of Jupiter, is 3,700 light-years from Earth.
A light-year is nearly 6 trillion miles. It was detected by a team led by NASA and San Diego State University using the planet-hunting Kepler telescope. The discovery was announced Monday during a meeting of the American Astronomical Society in San Diego.
Although the planet is in the habitable zone where water that is crucial to life can be liquid it's not a good candidate to support life because it's so big, scientists said.
"It's a bit curious that this biggest planet took so long to confirm since it is easier to find big planets than small ones," San Diego State astronomer Jerome Orosz said in a statement. Planets that circle a pair of suns are nicknamed "Tatooine" after the fictional body in the "Star Wars" films that boasts a double sunset.
In 2011, scientists found the first Tatooine planet a world about the size of Saturn 200 light-years from Earth. NASA launched Kepler in 2009 to search for planets mainly Earth-like planets outside the solar system.
