A mere 20 light-years away in the constellation Libra, red dwarf star Gliese 581 has received much scrutiny by astronomers in recent years.

Earthbound telescopes had detected the signatures of multiple planets orbiting the cool sun, two at least close to the system’s habitable zone — the region where an Earth-like planet can have liquid water on its surface. Now a team headed by Steven Vogt (UCO Lick), and Paul Butler (DTM Carnagie Inst.) has announced the detection of another planet, this one squarely in the system’s habitable zone.



via apod