NASA's Hubble Space Telescope Has Found A New Potentially Habitable Planet

For the first time in history, scientists have discovered water vapour in the atmosphere of a rocky planet situated within the habitable zone of its star.

K2-18b as it is now classified is being dubbed a 'super-earth' due to the fact that is it about twice the size of earth and eight times its mass.

According to a study published in Nature Astronomy the groundbreaking discovery on exoplanets (worlds that orbit other stars) has untold implications for the search of life outside of Earth and our solar system.

Located 110 light-years from Earth, K2-18b is the only other 'rocky' planet we know of with the right temperature to have water on its surface, as well as the only one we know of to contain water in its atmosphere.

Scientists judge the habitability of other planets based on the likeliness of it containing water. Due to the fact that life on Earth relies to heavily on water. More research has to be done on K2-18b to determine if the surface does indeed contain water.

Scientists will continue their research on K2-18b and other rocky exoplanets who are in the habitable zone of their respective stars to determine if Earth really is as unique as we think it is.

Source: NASA