I was so excited to hear about this discovery. This is really a good news as it is the first planet beyond our solar system that may contain water, and therefore life, was detected by a team of European astronomers.
Scientists have discovered a warm and rocky “second Earth” circling a star, a find they believe dramatically boosts the prospects that we are not alone.
The planet is the most Earth-like ever spotted and is thought to have perfect conditions for water, an essential ingredient for life. Researchers detected the planet orbiting one of Earth’s nearest stars, a cool red dwarf called Gliese 581, 20 light years away in the constellation of Libra.
Now the million dollar question – is there life on Gliese 581 c? Nobody has the answer, but it is the closest we’ve come to finding a planet capable of supporting life outside our own solar system.
‘Second Earth’ found, 20 light years away
