Researchers have found the first atmosphereatmosphere/ˈætməsfɪr/L2大气层The layer of gases that surrounds a planet. on a rockyrocky/ˈrɒki/L1多岩石的Made of rock or having many rocks. Earth-like planet. The planet, which is called LHS 1140 b, is in the habitablehabitable/ˈhæbɪtəbəl/L2适宜居住的Suitable for people or living things to live in. zonezone/zoʊn/L2区域，地带An area or region that has a particular characteristic. of a distant star. This zone has the right temperature for liquid water to exist on the surface. The planet is 48 light-years away from our solar system.
The only gas in the atmosphereatmosphere/ˈætməsfɪr/L2大气层The layer of gases that surrounds a planet. so far is helium. This gas cannot support life on its own. However, other gases may be present lower down. Dr. Collin Cherubim of Harvard University led the research. He described the discoverydiscovery/dɪˈskʌvəri/L2发现The act of finding something new or something that was not known before. as a big deal. 'This is the first time anyone has found an atmosphere on a rockyrocky/ˈrɒki/L1多岩石的Made of rock or having many rocks. planet in the habitablehabitable/ˈhæbɪtəbəl/L2适宜居住的Suitable for people or living things to live in. zonezone/zoʊn/L2区域，地带An area or region that has a particular characteristic. of another star,' he said.
This discoverydiscovery/dɪˈskʌvəri/L2发现The act of finding something new or something that was not known before. is an important step in the search for life beyond Earth. A planet needs water and the right temperature to support life. Scientists call this area the Goldilocks zonezone/zoʊn/L2区域，地带An area or region that has a particular characteristic.. Many planets are in this zone, but only a few are small and rocky like our own Earth. None of them had a confirmed atmosphereatmosphere/ˈætməsfɪr/L2大气层The layer of gases that surrounds a planet. before this one. This makes LHS 1140 b a very exciting find.
