'Mega-Earth' discovery raises hopes of finding more planets like ours

Astronomers have discovered a planet 560 light years away that has a solid, rocky core just like Earth’s – except it’s twice the size and has 17 times more mass! 

Astronomers have discovered a new type of rocky planet beyond the solar system that is twice the size and 17 times heavier than Earth, scientists said on June 2. The so-called 'mega-Earth' circles a very old star called Kepler-10, which is located about 560 light-years away from Earth in the constellation Draco.