一颗可能宜居的行星上,首次发现了水

In a tantalising first, scientists have discovered water at a planet outside our solar system that has temperatures suitable for life.

科学家首次在太阳系外一颗温度适宜生命生存的行星上，发现了水，这一发现令人振奋。

London researchers announced today they've found water vapour in the atmosphere of a planet 110 light-years away. This so-called Super Earth is the right distance from its star to conceivably harbour life.

伦敦研究人员今天宣布，他们在110光年外的一颗行星的大气层中发现了水蒸气。这个所谓的“超级地球”距离它的恒星正好可以孕育生命。

The University College London scientists say it's the only exoplanet known so far to have both water and temperatures needed for life, making it a prime candidate for potential life. But they caution it's not another Earth.

伦敦大学学院的科学家说，这是迄今为止已知的唯一一颗既有生命所需的水又有生命所需的温度的系外行星，因此它是潜在生命的首要候选行星。但他们警告说这不是另一个地球。

It's twice the size of Earth with eight times the mass, and its star is unlike our sun. No one knows if water's flowing on the surface. Lead author Angelos Tsiaras says it could help determine, "Is the Earth unique?"

它的体积是地球的两倍，质量是地球的八倍，它的恒星与我们的太阳不同。没有人知道水是不是在表面流动。主要作者安吉洛斯·齐亚拉斯说，这一发现有助于确定“地球是独一无二的吗?”

Its star and atmosphere are so different than ours that "Earth-like conditions are not possible," Tsiaras told reporters. "The only question that we're trying to ask here, and we're pushing forward, is the question of habitability."

它的恒星和大气与我们的非常不同，“不可能有类似地球的条件，”Tsiaras告诉记者。“我们在这里想问的唯一问题，也是我们正在推进的唯一问题，就是可居住性。”

A Canadian-led team announced similar findings today. In a paper just submitted to the Astronomical Journal for publication, these scientists suggest it might even be raining there.

今天，一个加拿大领导的研究小组宣布了类似的发现。在刚刚提交给《天文学杂志》发表的一篇论文中，这些科学家认为那里甚至可能在下雨。

"This represents the biggest step yet taken toward our ultimate goal of finding life on other planets, of proving that we are not alone," the study's lead astronomer, Bjorn Benneke of the University of Montreal, said.

蒙特利尔大学的首席天文学家Bjorn Benneke说:“这是我们朝着在其他行星上发现生命的最终目标迈出的最大一步，也证明了我们并不孤单。”