A nearby binary star system is bereft of giant planets, but scientists think it may still be a decent place to look for life.

Binary star system Eta Cassiopeiae, located just 19 light-years away, could be a good target in the search for habitable exoplanets, according to a recent study. University of California, Riverside astronomer Stephen Kane and his colleagues simulated the orbital dynamics of the star system and concluded that it's not home to any giant planets – or any planets farther than 8 astronomical units (8 times Earth's distance from the Sun) away from its main star.

But small, Earth-like planets might still be hanging out in the main star's habitable zone, waiting for astronomers to find them.

An empty planetary neighborhood

From Earth, Eta Cassiopeiae looks like a bright

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