ANOTHER SOLAR SYSTEM!!!!!!!

Astronomers have discovered seven Earth-sized exoplanets in another Solar System. Six of them are in what is called the temperate zone, which is an area where the temperature is thought to be between 0 and 100 degrees Celsius.

The researchers say that all seven could potentially support liquid water on the surface, depending on the other properties of those planets. But only three are within the conventional “habitable” zone were life is considered a possibility.

It is the largest number of Earth –sized planets ever found orbiting the same star. Three of the exoplanets were discovered moving around a star. After making this discovery, astronomers monitored the exoplanets from Earth and space and discovered four more.

They say they need to look at them in detail to find out more, especially about the seventh planet, which is located outside of the zone of which the other six planets are in.

The findings have been published in the Nature journal.

What are Exoplanets?

Exoplanets are planets that orbit a different star than our Sun – in a different solar system to the one we are in. Even though scientists thought for a long time that they may exist, it was only in 1992 that the first exoplanet was discovered. Further work to look for other ones has turned up some exciting results more recently too. Earlier in 2015, scientists discovered the exoplanet Kepler-452b, which was described as “Earth’s cousin” because of its close similarities to our planet. Space experts say exoplanets are really important because they raise the possibility that other life could exist in other solar systems.

By Amelia & Ioana 5J