[image: Water-on-planet]
92 NEWS –For the first time in history, water discovered on a planetoutside earth.
Astronomers have for the first time discovered water in the atmosphere ofa planet orbiting within the habitable zone of a distant star.
The finding makes the world – which is called K2-18b – a plausiblecandidate in the search for alien life.
Within 10 years, new space telescopes might be able to determine whetherK2-18b’s atmosphere contains gases that could be produced by livingorganisms.
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Details were published in the scientific journal Nature Astronomylink.
The lead scientist, Prof Giovanna Tinetti of University College London(UCL) described the discovery as “mind blowing”.
“This is the first time that we have detected water on a planet in thehabitable zone around a star where the temperature is potentiallycompatible with the presence of life,” she said.
