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It's not quite a spitting image of Earth, but a newfound planet just might be similar enough to support life.
這個新發(fā)現(xiàn)的星球與地球并不是一模一樣，但它與地球的相似之處足以支持生命的存在。
The world is one of three tentatively identified new exoplanets orbiting the star HD 40307. The outermost planet, HD 40307 g, orbits comfortably in the habitable zone, where Earth-like temperatures are possible. That means HD 40307 g could have liquid water on the surface—a probable prerequisite for life. The research is in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics.
經(jīng)初步確認有三個繞著恒星 HD 40307 轉(zhuǎn)動的系外行星，而新發(fā)現(xiàn)的星球也是其中一員。最外層行星 HD 40307 在“適居帶”軌道上運轉(zhuǎn)，在這片區(qū)域內(nèi)，星球表面可能有類似地球的溫度。這意味著 HD 40307 表面可能存在液態(tài)水，而水是生命的前提條件。這項研究發(fā)表在《天文學和天體物理學》雜志上。
But the planet is at least seven times as massive as Earth. So it could be a supersize version of our planet. Or it might be a scaled-down Neptune. A mini-Neptune would lack a solid surface and probably would not be an ideal habitat for life.
這個行星的體積幾乎是地球的7倍。因此它可能成為“超級地球”，或者成為小版的海王星。“迷你海王星”雖然缺少固體表面，但仍然是生命的理想搖籃。
The star in question was already known to host three planets, so the total could reach six if the new finds are independently confirmed.
我們已經(jīng)知道，這個恒星是三顆行星的母行星，所以如果能分別證實新的三個發(fā)現(xiàn)，那么總數(shù)可能達到六顆。
Confirmation is hardly assured. Two years ago some of the same astronomers involved in this work said they had located a potentially habitable planet called Gliese 581 g. But other researchers disputed the finding, and that planet's existence has been in limbo ever since. As usual, more data should settle the argument.
證實這些發(fā)現(xiàn)很難。兩年前，一些參與這項研究的天文學家說，他們可能發(fā)現(xiàn)了一個適于居住的行星，并給其命名為 Gliese 581 g。但其他研究人員就這一發(fā)現(xiàn)提出質(zhì)疑，自此這顆行星是否存在就一直懸而未決。同以往一樣，要解決爭端就必須找出更多數(shù)據(jù)。
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