Kepler to hunt for Earth-like planets around other suns

ASTRONOMERS began the search for another Earth in earnest this morning with the launch of a powerful new space telescope.

Kepler will offer the first chance of discovering whether habitable planets that may harbour life orbit distant stars.

If the three and a half year mission is successful it will change humanity’s view of the universe.

Some experts believe our galaxy, the Milky Way, could be teeming with Earth-like worlds.

The American space agency Nasa was due to blast the Kepler telescope into space from Cape Canaveral, Florida, at 03.48am.

Carried on top of a Delta II rocket, it will be placed in an orbit trailing the Earth around the sun. Target stars will vary in distance from tens of light years to around 3,000 light years.