Earth-like planets may be more common than once thought

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Artists impression the surface of an ocean-covered planet in the habitable zone of a system with a hot Jupiter. A hot Earth and the hot Jupiter are seen close to the setting sun. Massive waves and storms wash over the planet a possible result of a la ...
Artist's impression the surface of an ocean-covered planet in the habitable zone of a system with a "hot Jupiter." A "hot Earth" and the hot Jupiter are seen close to the setting sun. Massive waves and storms wash over the planet, a possible result of a lack of continents. Credit: Nahks Tr'Enhl 2006

More than one-third of the giant planet systems recently detected outside Earth's solar system may harbor Earth-like planets, many covered in deep oceans with potential for life, according to a new study led by the University of Colorado at Boulder and Pennsylvania State University.



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