Scientists from the Geneva Observatory today announced the existence of the first extra-solar planet that is very likely to contain water. Orbiting the star Gliese 581 in the constellation Libra, this planet appears roughly 1.5 times the size of earth, and while it orbits very close to its sun it appears to attain a “habitable” status of 0-40 degress Celsius because Gliese 581 is much older, smaller and cooler than dear old Sol. At those temperatures, water can exist in liquid form and if it’s present, this planet could support life. What kind of life is another matter, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Of course, because the sun is small and cool, it’s that much closer to failing and eventually going nova. At 20 light years distant, we’re not going to be travelling there anytime soon. Current obsevations of Gliese 581 c remain very speculative. According to the report, it could be a planet covered in oceans or mountainous rocks. How’d they find it? -

Gliese 581 was identified at the European Southern Observatory (Eso) facility at La Silla in the Atacama Desert.

To make their discovery, researchers used a very sensitive instrument that can measure tiny changes in the velocity of a star as it experiences the gravitational tug of a nearby planet.