国外媒体:科学家发现类似地球的星球

Gliese 581g is the sixth planet to be found circling a dwarf¹ star some 20 light-years away, in the constellation² of Libra. On paper it looks good – three times the mass of the Earth with possibly a rocky surface and enough gravity to hold on to an atmosphere.

Gliese 581g是发现的第六颗围绕天矮星的星球，它位于20光年外天秤座附近。理论上它看起来很不错——质量是地球的三位，岩石表面并有足够的引力能吸引住大气层。

The researchers also promised shirt-sleeve weather in some regions, but not everywhere. One side of the planet is almost always in sunshine; the other almost always in darkness and estimated temperatures range from minus four degrees Celsius³ to a very hot 71 degrees. A year meanwhile would go by in just 37 days.

研究者也发现有些地区有着温暖的气候，但并不是所有的地方都是这样。星球的一侧总是处于阳光中，另一侧总是处于黑暗中，温度估计从零下从读到零上71度。一年只有37天。

Of course, whether life could really be supported on Gliese 581g will need much more investigation⁴ and, most probably, technologies which don't exist yet. But the astronomers⁵ say planet hunting is getting easier and they were surprised how quickly they detected the tell-tale signs of this distant body, using ground-based telescopes.

当然，Gliese 581g上是否适合生命生存还需要很多的调查，而且，很可能这方面的技术并不纯在。天文学家说发现星球变得更加容易，当他们用地对空望远镜很快就发现这个遥远天气的明显迹象时，他们很惊讶。

1 dwarf   

n.矮子，侏儒，矮小的动植物；vt.使…矮小

参考例句：

• The dwarf's long arms were not proportional to his height.那侏儒的长臂与他的身高不成比例。
• The dwarf shrugged his shoulders and shook his head. 矮子耸耸肩膀，摇摇头。

2 constellation   

n.星座n.灿烂的一群

参考例句：

• A constellation is a pattern of stars as seen from the earth. 一个星座只是从地球上看到的某些恒星的一种样子。
• The Big Dipper is not by itself a constellation. 北斗七星本身不是一个星座。

3 Celsius   

adj.摄氏温度计的，摄氏的

参考例句：

• The temperature tonight will fall to seven degrees Celsius.今晚气温将下降到七摄氏度。
• The maximum temperature in July may be 36 degrees Celsius.七月份最高温度可能达到36摄氏度。

4 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

5 astronomers   

n.天文学者，天文学家( astronomer的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Astronomers can accurately foretell the date,time,and length of future eclipses. 天文学家能精确地预告未来日食月食的日期、时刻和时长。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Astronomers used to ask why only Saturn has rings. 天文学家们过去一直感到奇怪，为什么只有土星有光环。 来自《简明英汉词典》