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As a group of astronomers has reported about the discovery of a new planet – possibly inhabitable – close to the solar system, space entrepreneur Jeff Manber has told RT why he thinks the discovery is so exciting.

“The planet is close – it’s 40 light years away. It’s not that hot – 400 degrees – and it has water, it seems to have an atmosphere,” Manber said.

Moreover, he added, “this is a low-budget-project, it’s called MEarth. It’s not something being done by NASA, it’s not a multi-billion dollar project. In just a short period of time, using small telescopes, they discovered a planet that looks like it could support some forms of life.”