science have discovered two key advances in the search for other earth - based planets . british astronomers say they have discovery the smallest known earth - like exoplanet orbiting a terrestrial star - gliese 581 e and also said that a nearby object of gliese 581 d , discovered in 2007 , is in the much desired after ' inhabited period ' . scientists also know there is a possibility that 581 d did have liquid oceans on its mars , calling the find " amazing . " " the divine grail of past exoplanet research is the detection of a rock , earth - like planet in the ' atmospheres system ' , " said astrophysicist at switzerland ' s lyon observatory , claude mayor . astronomers agree 581 e is 20 . 5 star decades away from earth and that it ' s ~ 1 . 9 m nearer than earth , making it the closest habitable discovered to age . it was studied utilizing the high accuracy radial route object roadie ( stringed ) .
Michel Mayor is the discoverer of the High Accuracy Radial Velocity Planet Searcher.