European astronomers have discovered 50 new planets, including 16 "Super-Earths," one that might have the potential to sustain life.
Astronomers made the discovery at the Extreme Solar Systems meeting in Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park Monday.
One of the Super-Earths astronomers are interested in the most is larger than our planet. It's called HD 85512 b and is estimated to have a mass of about three times that of the earth. HD 85512 b is close enough to its star that liquid water, which is considered essential for life, may be present.
“These planets will be among the best targets for future space telescopes to look for signs of life in the planet’s atmosphere by looking for chemical signatures such as evidence of oxygen,” explaind Francesco Pepe (Geneva Observatory, Switzerland), the lead author of one of the recent papers, in a press release.
HD 85512 b was officially discovered in August and is about 35 light-years away in the constellation of Vela.
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