https://phys.org/news/2018-10-rocky-habitable-sizing-galaxy-planets.html > The discoveries so far inspire excitement and curiosity among scientists and the public. We've found rocky planets in Earth's size range, at the right distance from their parent stars to harbor liquid water. While these characteristics don't guarantee a habitable world – we can't quite tell yet if these planets really do possess atmospheres or oceans – they can help point us in the right direction. > Future space telescopes will be able to analyze the light from some of these planets, searching for water or a mixture of gases that resembles our own atmosphere. We will gain a better understanding of temperatures on the surface. As we continue checking off items on the habitability list, we'll draw closer and closer to finding a world bearing recognizable signs of life.