Moons like the one depicted in the film Avatar may be among the most common places to find alien life, scientists believe.
Astronomers came to the conclusion after identifying up to 15 new planets orbiting the life-friendly "habitable zones" of stars.
All are giant gaseous worlds similar in size to Jupiter or Neptune.
While such planets would not themselves be suitable for Earth-like life, they could be circled by moons on which there are forests, oceans and living creatures.
Pandora, the fictional moon in Avatar, is just such a world.
Moons like the one depicted in the film Avatar may be among the most common places to find alien life, scientists believe.
Astronomers came to the conclusion after identifying up to 15 new planets orbiting the life-friendly "habitable zones" of stars.
All are giant gaseous worlds similar in size to Jupiter or Neptune.
While such planets would not themselves be suitable for Earth-like life, they could be circled by moons on which there are forests, oceans and living creatures.
Pandora, the fictional moon in Avatar, is just such a world.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/moons-could-hold-alien-life-li...