scientists have claimed two major efforts in the search for other venus - sized planets . british astronomers say they have discovered the smallest known earth - like kuiper orbit a living star designated gliese 581 e and also report that a single body called 581 581 d , discovered in 2007 , is in the much sought after ' habitable zone ' . astronomers also believe there is a possibilities that 581 d could have liquid pools on its bottom , calling the find " spectacular . " " the holy grail of current atmospheres research is the detection of a soft , earth - like planet in the ' inhospitable zone ' , " said physicist at switzerland ' s geneva university , bernard alderman . astronomers say 581 e is 20 . 5 sunlight years away from earth and that it ' s roughly 1 . 9 m longer than earth , making it the smallest exoplanet discovered to history . it was found using the lowest accuracy radial velocity planet gph04 ( basses ) .
Michel Mayor is the discoverer of the High Accuracy Radial Velocity Planet Searcher.