Just 40 light-years from Earth, scientists have discovered seven "Earth-sized planets" in the largest cache of planets found around a single star outside of our solar system.
"The discovery gives us a hint that finding a second Earth is not just a matter of if, but when," said Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator of the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters. "You can just imagine how many worlds are out there that have a shot at becoming a habitable ecosystem that we can explore."
Three of the newly discovered planets are in what's known as the habitable zone, the area around a star where a rocky planet is most likely to have liquid water, according to NASA.
New record! We’ve found 7 Earth-sized planets around a single star outside our solar system; 3 in habitable zone: https://t.co/GgBy5QOTpK pic.twitter.com/NEavRSXDU2
— NASA (@NASA) February 22, 2017
Scientists characterized the discovery as a significant leap in the search for alien life during a news conference on Wednesday afternoon.
"Answering the question 'are we alone' is a top science priority and finding so many planets like these for the first time in the habitable zone is a remarkable step forward toward that goal," Zurbuchen said.
The planets were found around the ultracool dwarf star named TRAPPIST-1 using ground and space telescopes, according to the European Organisation for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere.
Check back for updates on this developing story.
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