Recently,
scientists have confirmed that 15 planets and 30 moons outside
our solar system are habitable. Out of those planets
and moons only two are similar to Earth¡¯s size and
Earth¡¯s distance from the sun. More
studies will be done on these planets. Scientists want to see if any
of these planets can harborlife. Astronomers have found hundreds to thousands of planets and
moons that may be inhabitable. Most of them
orbit too close to their
heat source, so they are
made of hot gas. Only a handful of the planets and
moons found have the suitableconditions for water and
life.
Gliese 581d is one of the habitable planets that have been discovered.
It is 20 light years away. It orbits
a red dwarf star. It is located
in a solar system with five other planets. Although the planet is
six times the mass of Earth, it orbits
in a zone not too far or close
from its star. Liquid water may exist there. French researchers
have theorized that it can have
oceans, clouds, and rainfall as well.