Scientists Find Planet With Possibility of Sustaining Life

Astronomers have announced the discovery of a planet with conditions that may be suitable for habitation. NASA reports that a team studying Gliese 581g for over a decade thinks it's in a zone where water could exist on the surface. Steven Vogt, professor of astronomy at UC Santa Cruz, says the research shows a "very compelling case for a potentially habitable planet. 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."

Before you start packing, a few things to consider: Gliese 581g is 20 light years (about 120 trillion miles) away from Earth in the constellation Libra, and planets designated as "Golidlocks," or potentially able to sustain life, wouldn't necessarily be a place where humans would do well. Read NASA's full article. (More planet stories.)