By Nadia Drake
Inching ever closer toward the goal of finding another Earth, scientists have announced the most promising extraterrestrial incubator so far: a planet of at least 4.5 Earth masses, orbiting its star in the region where liquid water can stably exist.
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The super-Earth is called GJ 667Cc, and it circles one member of a triple-star system shining 22 light-years from Earth near the curving tail of the constellation Scorpius.
Unlike other recent tantalizing discoveries, the planet is both well within its star’s life-friendly zone, and it’s just about the right size to host life as we know it. But that doesn’t mean GJ 667Cc is habitable, scientists caution, as crucial pieces of information are missing.