Astronomers Find Tantalizing Hints of a Potentially Habitable Exoplanet

(Before It's News)

Dwarf star HD 40307 is now thought to host at least 6 exoplanet candidates… one of them well within its habitable zone. (G. Anglada/Celestia)

Located 43 light-years away in the southern constellation Pictor, the orange-colored dwarf star HD 40307 has previously been found to hold three “super-Earth” exoplanets in close orbit. Now, a team of researchers poring over data from ESO’s HARPS planet-hunting instrument are suggesting that there are likely at least six super-Earth exoplanets orbiting HD 40307 — with one of them appearing to be tucked neatly into the star’s water-friendly “Goldilocks” zone.
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© Jason Major for Universe Today, 2012. | Permalink | 11 comments |
Post tags: exoplanet, Goldilocks, habitable zone, HD 40307, planet, super earth, Tuomi

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