Astronomers have discovered an alien planet which could be the best candidate yet for harbouring water and possibly life.

The planet, named GJ 667Cc, is located 22 light-years from Earth and is roughly 4.5 times the size of our home planet.

The planet is within the “habitable zone” of its host star – a region of space in which temperatures are neither too hot, nor too cold for water to exist in liquid form on the planet’s surface. The presence of liquid water could provide conditions conducive to life.