An Interest In:
Web News this Week
- April 15, 2024
- April 14, 2024
- April 13, 2024
- April 12, 2024
- April 11, 2024
- April 10, 2024
- April 9, 2024
December 19, 2012 09:49 pm GMT
Original Link: http://feeds.mashable.com/~r/Mashable/~3/Mbq5Kil5syM/
Potentially Habitable Planet Is Only 12 Light-Years Away
A sun-like star in our solar system's backyard may host five planets, including one perhaps capable of supporting life as we know it, a new study reports.
Astronomers have detected five possible alien planets circling the star Tau Ceti, which is less than 12 light-years from Earth — a mere stone's throw in the cosmic scheme of things. One of the newfound worlds appears to orbit in Tau Ceti's habitable zone, a range of distances from a star where liquid water can exist on a planet's surface.
With a minimum mass just 4.3 times that of Earth, this potential planet would be the smallest yet found in the habitable zone of a sun-like star if it's confirmed, researchers said.
More About: NASA, alien planets, space
Original Link: http://feeds.mashable.com/~r/Mashable/~3/Mbq5Kil5syM/
Share this article:
Tweet
View Full Article
Mashable
Mashable is the top source for news in social and digital media, technology and web culture.More About this Source Visit Mashable