The planet was spotted by researchers at the Canary Islands Institute of Astrophysics (IAC) using the 3.6-meter Galileo National Telescope at the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory.

Astronomers on Wednesday announced the discovery of a "super-Earth" orbiting a nearby star which may offer the most promising target yet in the search for life beyond the Solar System.

The ‘super-Earth’ was found orbiting a red dwarf star, just 32.7 light years away.