The nearby, Earth-like planet that might support life

Astronomers say a rocky world just 20 light years away could be the first outside our own solar system to sustain life. A guide to planet Gliese 581d

An artist's rendering of Gliese 581d and its possible moons
(Image credit: Wikimedia: Debivort)

French astronomers studying a "warm and wet" planet 20 light years away say it may be the first outside our solar system that could sustain life. Scientists at the Institute Pierre Simon Laplace in Paris who used a new computer model to simulate the planet's climate concluded that it could resemble Earth's. Here, a brief guide:

What is this planet?

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
To continue reading this article...
Continue reading this article and get limited website access each month.
Get unlimited website access, exclusive newsletters plus much more.
Cancel or pause at any time.
Already a subscriber to The Week?
Not sure which email you used for your subscription? Contact us