WASHINGTON — To the delight of science enthusiasts, NASA has announced the discovery of seven Earth-sized planets orbiting a single star a mere 39 light-years away. In a highly anticipated press conference Wednesday, the space agency provided details about the alien worlds surrounding TRAPPIST-1, an “ultra-cool dwarf” star in the constellation Aquarius. Of the seven rocky planets, three lie in what is known as the “Goldilocks Zone” — a habitable region around a star in which a planet is most likely to harbor water, and even life. But under the right atmospheric conditions, scientists say, all seven could potentially have liquid water. “The discovery gives us a hint that finding a second Earth is not just a matter of if, but when,” Zurbuchen said.

Source: Huffington Post February 22, 2017 18:47 UTC