This new, big, dense planet is rocky, like Earth, and has the right temperatures for water, putting it in the habitable zone for life, according to a study published Wednesday in the journal Nature . It’s the fifth such life-possible planet outside our solar system revealed in less than a year, but still relatively nearby Earth. Rocky planets within that habitable zone of a star are considered the best place to find evidence of some form of life. Astronomers have now identified 52 potentially habitable planets and more than 3,600 planets outside our solar system. Seven outside astronomers said the Milky Way is big enough for all the discoveries to be exciting, requiring more exploring.

Source: National Post April 20, 2017 14:03 UTC