Distant Earth-like planets could harbor water — and maybe life

[kevindavis007]

Several planets in a distant solar system have temperatures that could sustain liquid water, thought to be a key for life, a series of studies released Monday report.

The planets, which scientists say are the best-studied worlds outside our solar system, “remarkably resemble Mercury, Venus, our Earth, its moon and Mars,” said Amaury Triaud, a University of Birmingham astronomer who co-authored one of the studies.

The worlds in question circle a dim star called TRAPPIST-1, which shares its name with the Belgian-operated telescope (Transiting Planets and Planetesimals Small Telescope) located in Chile. It's also a reference to the famous Trappist beer.

Read More: http://www.isn-news.net/2018/02/distant-earth-like-planets-could-harbor.html

[Joe Wooten]

Maybe there's water, but I doubt there's life that close to an active red dwarf star.