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Earth-like planets discovered | Daily Star Scientists have discovered watery asteroids that prove extraterrestrials once existed [GETTY]

Scientists say they were spooked at discovering a watery asteroid that proves the existence of planets once ruled by extraterrestrials.

The combination of oxygen-rich water and minerals including magnesium on the space rock are vital for life to be able to exist.

Dr Jay Farihi, of Cambridge University, said: “The finding of water in a large asteroid means the building blocks of habitable planets existed – and maybe still exist in the GD 61 system, and likely a substantial number of similar parent stars.

“Our results demonstrate that there was definitely potential for habitable planets in this exoplanetary system”

Dr Jay Farihi

“These water-rich building blocks and the terrestrial planets they build may be common. A system cannot create things as big as asteroids and avoid building planets.

Dr Farihi and his colleagues studied the asteroid close to GD 61, a dying star known as a white giant. And they think the life-giving asteroid spotted close to it could prove that similar planets once existed.

They also believe the large “gas giants” could have nudged the Earth-like planets towards the sun, making them burn up.

Dr Farihi added: “This supports the idea that the star originally had terrestrial planets.”