Kepler-22b
This artist's conception illustrates Kepler-22b, a planet known to comfortably circle in the habitable zone of a sun-like star. It is the first planet that NASA's Kepler mission has confirmed to orbit in a star's habitable zone -- the region around a star where liquid water, a requirement for life on Earth, could persist. The planet is 2.4 times the size of Earth, making it the smallest yet found to orbit in the middle of the habitable zone of a star like our sun. NASA/Ames/JPL-Caltech

NASA scientists believe they are a step closer to finding Earth-like planets, following the discovery of the new planet Kepler-22b.

The space agency said that the new planet has many similarities to planet Earth and that there is the possibility that water exists on Kepler-22b's surface. This is because the planet was found in the habitable zone and was orbiting a star that's similar to the Earth's sun.

Here are five facts about Kepler-22b (based on released information from NASA):

1. Kepler-22b is the first potentially habitable world confirmed beyond our solar system.

2. The planet is about 2.4 times the radius of Earth. Scientists still don't know if Kepler-22b is solid or gaseous.

3. Kepler-22b is located 600 light-years away.

4. The planet, though larger than Earth, has an orbit of 290 days around a sun-like star resembling that of Earth.

5. The planet's host star is slightly smaller and cooler, but it belongs to the same class as our sun (a G-type star).

You can read more about Kepler-22b here or watch the video below:

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