The picture I selected features, much like our solar system, a star and an orbiting planet. Except for this is over 20 light-years away. The red star shown in the background is called Gliese 581, and is a red dwarf star. The planet in the foreground that looks Earth-like has been named Gliese 581g, or more affectionately by one of the discoverers, Zarmina's world. The discovery of this planet is important, because it is the third planet of that red dwarf star's to be located in a habitable zone. This means that this new planet and two other planets could easily hold life on them, because they are very similar to Earth. The discovery of Gliese 581g provides more evidence that there could easily be more life in the galaxy besides Earth. And the possibility of life beyond Earth is an incredibly fascinating idea for scientists of all kinds.
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