Scientists discover three new planets similar to Earth
SCIENTISTS have discovered a trio of Earth-like planets that are the best bet so far for finding life outside our solar system. The three orbit an ultracool dwarf star a mere 39 light years away, and are likely comparable in size and temperature to Earth and Venus, they reported in a study, published in Nature . “This is the first opportunity to find chemical traces of life outside our solar system,” said lead author Michael Gillon, an astrophysicist at the University of Liege in Belgium. All three planets had the “winning combination” of being similar in size to Earth, “potentially habitable” and close enough so their atmospheres can be analysed with current technology, he told AFP . Star gazers will need to use the Hubble telescope to gather more information on the new planets. Picture: Supplied. Source: News Limited The find opens up a whole new “hunting ground” for habitable planets, he added. Gallon and colleagues calibrated a 60-centimetre tele...
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