Trappist-1 Exoplanet System
Just 40 light-years away, NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope has just discovered seven rocky Earth-like planets orbiting the star TRAPPIST-1. Of the seven, at least three appear to be in the habitable zone — meaning liquid water could be found on the surface. If any of these planets also carry oxygen and methane in their atmospheres, the presence of life is highly likely, making your alien dreams closer to a reality. In 2018, NASA plans on launching the James Webb Space Telescope to futher measure the chemical fingerprints of these exoplanets.