Yahoo News Has NASA just discovered another Earth?
It looks like there could be life out there after all - and no, this isn't a sci-fi movie we're talking about.
NASA has announced that it's discovered seven similar planets to our own orbiting a single star. However, don't count on going there anytime soon, as they're 40 lightyears away - that's 235 trillion miles.
The planets, which all potentially support water according to scientists, orbit a star called TRAPPIST-1, but only three fall into the "habitable zone" where life is considered possible.
The TRAPPIST-1 star & 7 Earth-sized planets orbiting it, are relatively close to us; located ~40 light-years away: https://t.co/QS80AnZ2Jg pic.twitter.com/GiKAFXyNvo
- NASA (@NASA) February 22, 2017
"This discovery could be a significant piece in the puzzle of finding habitable environments, places that are conducive to life," said Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator of the agency's Science Mission Directorate in Washington.
"Answering the question, 'Are we alone?' is a top science priority and finding so many planets like these for the first time in the habitable zone is a remarkable step forward toward that goal."
And check out the swish travel poster NASA knocked up for TRAPPIST-1:
Twitter, naturally, has been having a field-day with the news.
Many have been poking fun at our own world being a bit rubbish:
Earth: We found 7 Earth-like planets!
7 Earth-like planets (in unison): FUCK.- Matt Post (@MattPostSaysHi) February 23, 2017
NASA can find 7 new earth-like planets and i can't even find emotional stability
- sara goetzinger (@goatz_) February 23, 2017
TRAPPIST-1: come over
me: I can't
TRAPPIST-1: I have seven earthlike planets, several in my habitable zone
me: pic.twitter.com/GKzsBVB1YF- Alex Fitzpatrick (@AlexJamesFitz) February 22, 2017
nasa discovered seven new planets tht may have life&now im just waiting for aliens to discover earth&abduct me so i can finally escape earth pic.twitter.com/FTRsV7XOyS
- blue boy (@COCONUTOILBAE) February 22, 2017
Me leaving earth once NASA confirms which of the 7 planets is habitable pic.twitter.com/CNcltjhjll
- Alluring Ivy🌿 (@Drebae_) February 22, 2017
"NASA found seven planets that are similar to earth and three of them are most likely habitable" pic.twitter.com/3gWEnLQIRl
- 🦄sandra hunter🦄 (@sndrmusic) February 22, 2017
SCIENTISTS FROM THE 7 NEWLY DISCOVERED HABITABLE PLANETS: we just discovered a single habitable planet caled 'earth' thats full of idiots
- jomny sun (@jonnysun) February 22, 2017
NASA:we've found more planets u can live on.
Us:Yay
NASA: but it would take a billion yrs to get there pic.twitter.com/t80K58HMtW- vegan bae. (@HalfJewish) February 23, 2017
Even Chewbacca got involved:
Only 40 Light Years away? That's about the distance of the Kessel Run.. 12.2641 Parsecs (I double-checked) https://t.co/l61qWkiAuK
- Peter Mayhew (@TheWookieeRoars) February 22, 2017
While many imagined Donald Trump's likely reaction:
These 7 other earth-like planets are not our problem. Crooked scientists should be ashamed. EARTH FIRST!
- Jon Cozart (@JonCozart) February 23, 2017
*president orders NASA to beam a radio message to the seven earthlike planets telling them he won the election by the biggest margin ever*
- Alt-Dave (@gneicco) February 22, 2017
Has Trump been racist about one of the new planets yet
- Robbie Collin (@robbiereviews) February 22, 2017
*trump becomes president*
NASA: Shit
*a few weeks later*
NASA: we've found 7 planets, 3 we can live on and there's enough room for everyone pic.twitter.com/R4RDoAtHJC- Sammy☠️ (@SammyAlbon) February 23, 2017
Good news: There are 7 newly discovered possibly hospitable planets.
Bad news: Russia is already interfering in their elections.- Kumail Nanjiani (@kumailn) February 22, 2017
So, there you go. The new Earth, a bit like the truth, is out there...
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