EXTRASOLAR PLANETS seem to orbit the star PSR B1257+12, the tiny, dense remnant of an ancient supernova explosion. The spacing of the three surrounding planets--known as A, B and C--resembles the circumstances of our solar system (the sizes of the planets are not drawn to scale). It is possible that a more distant, habitable planet circles this stellar corpse. There is also increasing evidence that planetary systems orbit many sunlike stars, which offer better prospects for life.

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Scientific American

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