One side of the planet probably always faces its star. Four other planets, all gas giants, are known to orbit the same star. The planet is found in our Milky Way galaxy, about 41 light-years from Earth. A light-year is the distance light travels in a year, or 9.5 trillion kilometers. 

行星的一侧可能总是面向其恒星。 已知还有另外四颗行星，都是气态巨行星，绕着同一颗恒星运行。 这颗行星位于我们的银河系中，距地球约 41 光年。 一光年是光一年传播的距离，即 9.5 万亿公里。 

The planet’s star is gravitationally tied to another star in the system. Having two stars in the same system is called a binary system. 

该行星的恒星通过引力与系统中的另一颗恒星相连。 同一系统中有两颗恒星称为双星系统。 

The other star is a red dwarf, the smallest kind of an ordinary star. The distance between these two stars is 1,000 times the distance between Earth and the sun. Light from one star takes six days to reach the other star. 

另一颗恒星是红矮星，是最小的普通恒星。 这两颗恒星之间的距离是地球与太阳之间距离的1000倍。 来自一颗恒星的光需要六天才能到达另一颗恒星。 

Although the rocky planet does appear to have an atmosphere, scientists say it probably should not even have one. Being so close to its star, any atmosphere should be taken away by the effects of the star. 

尽管这颗岩石行星似乎确实有大气层，但科学家表示它可能根本不应该有大气层。 由于距离恒星如此之近，任何大气层都会受到恒星的影响而消失。 

But gases dissolved in the planet’s large ocean of molten rock may continue to fill up the atmosphere, Hu said. 

但胡说，溶解在地球上巨大的熔岩海洋中的气体可能会继续充满大气层。 

“The planet cannot be habitable,” Hu added. That is because it is too hot to have liquid water, which is also considered necessary for life. 

“这个星球不适合居住，”胡补充道。 这是因为太热了，无法拥有液态水，而液态水也被认为是生命所必需的。 

Scientists have found other planets with an atmosphere outside our solar system. But they have all been gaseous planets, not rocky ones. 

科学家们在太阳系之外发现了其他拥有大气层的行星。 但它们都是气态行星，而不是岩石行星。 

As the James Webb telescope pushes the limits of space exploration, the discovery of a rocky planet with an atmosphere is a sign of progress. 

随着詹姆斯·韦伯望远镜突破了太空探索的极限，发现具有大气层的岩石行星是进步的标志。 

On Earth, the atmosphere warms the planet. It contains the oxygen people breathe and protects against the effects of the sun. It also creates the pressure needed for liquid water to remain on the planet’s surface. 

在地球上，大气层使地球变暖。 它含有人们呼吸的氧气并防止阳光的影响。 它还产生液态水留在地球表面所需的压力。 

Brice-Olivier Demory is a scientist at Switzerland’s University of Bern’s Center for Space and Habitability. He helped write the new study. He said, “On Earth, atmosphere is key for life.” He added that the findings create hope that the Webb telescope may one day find cooler planets that could support liquid water on their surface. 

布里斯-奥利维耶·德莫里 (Brice-Olivier Demory) 是瑞士伯尔尼大学空间与宜居中心的科学家。 他帮助撰写了这项新研究。 他说：“在地球上，大气是生命的关键。” 他补充说，这些发现带来了希望，韦伯望远镜有一天可能会发现能够在其表面支持液态水的较冷行星。 

“But,” he said, “we are not there yet.” 

“但是，”他说，“我们还没有到那一步。”