More Earth-like Planets Found

Recently, GJ667C, a low-luminosity “M-dwarf” star about 1/3 the mass of our Sun and part of a triple-sun system around 22 light-years from Earth (one light-year = ~5.9 trillion miles) was part of an ongoing international star study.

Scientists had previously found evidence of the existence of two "super Earths" (less than ten times larger than Earth) and the possibility of a third, when they discovered a total of 6-7 worlds circling the star at a distance that would allow life.

U.S. lead author, University of Washington astronomer Rory Barnes, describes emerging evidence of more M-dwarf stars that have more low-mass planets in habitable zones along with the rest of an international team. 

“These planets are good candidates to have a solid surface and maybe an atmosphere like the Earth’s, not something like Jupiter,” Barnes said.

Using doppler spectroscopy, astronomers are able to see farther and clearer. Who knows how many other potentially habitable planets are circling suns in our galactic neighborhood? I can wait to find out!