The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has discovered a planet named K2-3d which scientists believe could be potentially harboring extraterrestrial creatures.
During the voyage of Kepler's K2 mission, scientists found the planet with a size 1.5 times larger than the Earth and with a star smaller than the Sun that orbits around it every 45 days.
K2-3d reportedly has many similar characteristics with the Earth including a warm and endurable atmosphere, an environment that can host water and the presence of orbiting stars. These characteristics have pushed scientists to suggest that extraterrestrials may be present on the planet, which is 150 million light years away from Earth.
However, proving these hypotheses is difficult and will take many years. Scientists will begin confirming their guess by next year with the help of Hubble Telescope. Hydrogenic atmosphere and clouds are two important factors that will support the researchers' hunch that the planet is hosting alien life. Dr. Bjorn Benneke of the California Institute of Technology said that researchers are hoping to unveil a "hydrogen-rich atmosphere, or a blanket of clouds."
Recently, Chinese scientists warned about alien life in the universe. "If we find a lot of oxygen molecules in the atmosphere of an extraterrestrial planet, they are probably produced by life activities," the scientists said. Researchers have been developing computing technologies and telescopes to confirm the presence of ETs in the universe.
More studies will be conducted to examine K2-3d. The National Astronomical Observatory of Japan will be one of the leaders of the in-depth planetary research. Further, the James Webb Space Telescope will be used to gather more information about the area. The device is Hubble's successor and is set to be unveiled in 2018.