Earth-Like Planet Could Sustain Life

Scientists claim major breakthrough in search for extraterrestrial life
By Colleen Barry,  Newser Staff
Posted Apr 25, 2007 7:29 AM CDT
Earth-Like Planet Could Sustain Life
This artistic illustration released by the European Southern Observatory on Tuesday, April 24, 2007, shows planets orbiting the red dwarf star, Gliese 581. Astronomers believe that the newly discovered planet Gliese 581 c, left, is potentially habitable.   (Associated Press)

Astronomers have discovered a planet that can sustain liquid water, the prerequisite for life as we understand it. Named Gliese 581 C, the new planet orbits a red dwarf star in what's called the "Goldilocks zone"—not so close that water melts, and not so far that it freezes.

Whether life exists there remains a mystery; Gilese is 20 light years away. But the planet, which is 50% bigger than earth, could be a target for future space missions searching for extraterrestrial life, astronomer Xavier Delfosse points out. "On the treasure map of the universe, one would be tempted to mark this planet with an X, Delfosse said.
(More space exploration stories.)

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