May 3, 2016 02:58 AM
A small red dwarf star about 40 light-years from Earth has been found to have three rocky planets in its habitable zone, where temperatures might allow liquid water to exist. This is a dim little star, so its habitable zone is presumably quite close to it.
Interestingly, these kind of small red stars, not much larger than brown dwarfs or the size of Jupiter, are probably the most common kind of star in our galaxy. Previously, it was thought that they wouldn't be very promising candidates for fnding habitable planets, but with more information that's changing.
http://news.mit.edu/2016/scientists-disc...anets-0502
Interestingly, these kind of small red stars, not much larger than brown dwarfs or the size of Jupiter, are probably the most common kind of star in our galaxy. Previously, it was thought that they wouldn't be very promising candidates for fnding habitable planets, but with more information that's changing.
http://news.mit.edu/2016/scientists-disc...anets-0502