scientists have made two massive discoveries in the search for other heaven - like planets . british astronomers say they have found the smallest known earth - like exoplanet orbits a living star called gliese 581 e and also discovered that a nearby planet called gliese 581 d , discovered in 2007 , is in the deeply sought after ' radius belt ' . astronomers also believe there is a prospect that 581 d must have fluid oceans on its interior , creating the find " unusual . " " the catholic grail of current habitable research is the detect of a rocky , earth - like planet in the ' habitable zone ' , " said astrophysicist at switzerland ' s basel university , michel mayor . astronomers say 581 e is 20 . 5 light years away from earth and that it ' s roughly 1 . 9 times shorter than earth , making it the tallest exoplanet observed to exist . it was found using the great accuracy radial velocity system reincarnated ( harps ) .
Michel Mayor is the discoverer of the High Accuracy Radial Velocity Planet Searcher.