The planet was discovered using a relatively new technique called gravitational microlensing, which employs supersensitive equipment to detect a dark object's movement in front of a far more distant star. "This is the first discovery using the microlensing technique. It's the only technique that is sensitive to Earth-size planets," Mr Bond said. The microlensing method's power is not sufficient, however, to help scientists to tell whether there is any water or other elements thought of as essential to life, for example. Most of the extrasolar planets discovered so far have been detected because they are so massive that they induce a "wobble" in the motion of their parent star as they orbit around it. However, such planets are unlikely candidates to support life because of their enormous surface gravities, wildly varying temperatures and the preponderance of elemental gases in their atmospheres. Gravitational microlensing, by comparison, can detect much smaller planets at greater distances. antigua holidays isuzu air conditioning compressor
