Earth's gassy twin as been discovered in another solar system 200 light years away. Pictured is an artist's impression of KOI-314c in orbit around its star. It orbits a dim red dwarf star at such a close distance that temperatures on its surface could be as high as 104°C

Scientists believe one in five stars in our galaxy have Earth-like planets orbiting them.

But the ultimate goal of finding a world that truly resembles our own has continued to elude astronomers.

Now researchers have come a step closer by finding Earth's gassy twin in another solar system 200 light years away.

It orbits a dim red dwarf star at such a close distance that temperatures on its surface could be as high as 104°C - too hot for most forms of life on Earth.

KOI-314C is only 30 per cent more dense than water. This suggests that the world is enveloped by a blanket of hydrogen and helium hundreds of miles thick.

Scientists believe it may have started life as a mini-Neptune before some of its atmospheric gases were blasted away by intense radiation from the parent star.

'This planet might have the same mass as Earth, but it is certainly not Earth-like,' said lead astronomer Dr David Kipping from the Harvard-Smithsonian Centre for Astrophysics.

'It proves that there is no clear dividing line between rocky worlds like Earth and fluffier planets like water worlds or gas giants.'

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