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Astronomers say they've discovered a fourth planet outside our solar system that could support life.

• It orbits a star called GJ 667C, about 22 light years away from Earth.
• The star is less hot than our sun but the planet - called GJ 667Cc - is close enough that its surface temperature should be about the same as Earth's
• The planet's much bigger than Earth - about 4.5 times our planet's mass - but it orbits its star about every 28 days, so its year is about one Earth-month.
• It could have water on it, too.
  

The international team made the discovery looking at data from the European Southern Observatory.

Fourth 'Earth-like' planet

The first planet outside our solar system that might support life was discovered by French astronomers in 2007 and named Gliese 581d. It was initially thought that Gliese 581d was too cold to support life, but this was later revised in May 2011.

Then in August 2011, Swiss scientists found HD 85512b and towards the end of the year, Nasa discovered Kepler 22b, an amazing 600 light years away.

Resources to help with teaching of exoplants

Exoplanets
In this Teaching Astronomy and Space video, produced by the Institute of Physics (IOP), Teachers TV and Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), Don Pollacco introduces us to SuperWASP, one of the most successful exoplanet finding instruments in the world. Don explains how we find planets orbiting other stars and how one day, we may study them for signs of life. Age:11-14 | 14-16 | 16-19

First Exoplanet
From the European Southern Observatory (ESO), this video describes how an exoplanet orbiting a star that entered our galaxy, the Milky Way, from another galaxy has been detected. Age: 16-19

Quick Guide: Exoplanets
This quick guide, from the Triple Science Support Programme, describes exoplanets, which are planets that orbit stars outside of our solar system. This is a resource produced by current experts in the field of astronomy to provide teachers with an understanding of current scientific thinking which they can apply in the classroom. It is a simplified summary of complex ideas for the busy practitioner teaching out of subject or needing a refresher.

Exoplanets: The search for planets beyond our solar system
The Institute of Physics and the Royal Astronomical Society held a joint seminar in London on 15 June 2011 to discuss progress, recent results and future projects in the discovery and study of planets orbiting stars other than our Sun..