Hot new planet could be in habitable zone — barely

Photo by AP

This undated handout image provided by The Europeans Southern Observatory shows a close-up of the sky around the star HD 85512.

WASHINGTON — Astronomers believe they have found a second planet outside our solar system that seems to be in the right zone for life, just barely. But it would feel like a steam bath — hot, sticky and beyond uncomfortable.

European astronomers announced the discovery Monday along with about 50 other planets outside our solar system at a conference in Moran, Wyo. The most exciting of those planets is only the second to be confirmed as lying in what astronomers call the habitable zone, or the Goldilocks zone. That means it’s not too hot and not too cold for liquid water to be present. Water is the key to a planet being able to support Earth-like life, scientists say.source