Astronomers have discovered a potentially habitable planet in orbit around a nearby star, the internet reports. The Guardian has details:
The planet is in the “Goldilocks zone” of space around a star where surface temperatures are neither too hot nor too cold for liquid water to form.
“Our findings offer a very compelling case for a potentially habitable planet,” said Steven Vogt, an astronomer at the University of California, Santa Cruz. “The fact that we were able to detect this planet so quickly and so nearby tells us that planets like this must be really common.”
If confirmed, the planet would be the most Earth-like that has ever been discovered in another solar system and the first strong contender for a habitable one.
This means we’ve got our backup plan, and there’s no need any more to deal with this thorny global warming problem. Henceforth, Grist will be focusing on celebrity gossip, which is what we always wanted to do. Also, “Goldilocks zone” = decent female death-metal band name, no?
More real explanation at Wired.
