Science & Technology

Scientists Find Water-Rich Planet 40 Light Years Away

Gilese 1214b

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Japanese scientists have determined that a planet outside our solar system that most likely has a water-rich atmosphere. The planet, Gilese 1214b, is only 40 light years from Earth.

Discovered in 2009, Gilese 1214b is what's known as a "super-Earth" – bigger than Earth but smaller than a gas giant. In this case, it's about 2.7 times bigger than Earth.