Earth-Sized Planet Found in Habitable Zone Nearby

In a thrilling advancement for astronomy and the quest for extraterrestrial life, an international team of scientists has revealed the discovery of Gliese 12 b, a temperate, Earth-sized exoplanet located just 40 light-years away, which equates to a relatively close 378 trillion kilometers from Earth.

Researchers globally, with significant contributions from McGill University and Western University, collaborated on the search for Gliese 12 b through the InfraRed Doppler Subaru Strategic Program (IRD-SSP), which focuses on identifying habitable zone planets around red dwarfs.

Advanced Detection Methods and New Horizons for Exoplanet Research

The international team detected the planet using a blend of advanced telescopes and observational methods. This discovery opens up exciting possibilities for gaining a deeper understanding of worlds beyond our solar system.

Gliese 12 b orbits a central star known as Gliese 12, a red dwarf. Red dwarfs are smaller, cooler, and more common than G-Type stars like our Sun.

Planets orbiting red dwarfs are prime targets in the search for extraterrestrial life because terrestrial planets are easier to detect around these stars compared to more massive stars like our Sun.

Gliese 12 is one of two red dwarf stars—along with TRAPPIST-1—within 100 light-years of Earth that host Earth-sized planets with relatively low levels of stellar radiation.

TRAPPIST-1’s intense activity, such as frequent high-energy stellar flares, likely affects the habitability of its planets, with recent observations suggesting that TRAPPIST-1 b and c have nearly no atmosphere.

Highly active stars like TRAPPIST-1 emit more frequent and intense flares, producing harmful high-energy radiation. In contrast, Gliese 12 is an unusually calm red dwarf, providing its planets with much less detrimental radiation.

Size and Position

Gliese 12 b is particularly fascinating due to its size and position. It is approximately the same size as Earth, which suggests it could have a similar composition and surface environment. However, further observations and modeling are necessary to verify this.

The planet’s location near the inner edge of its star’s habitable zone adds to its interest. The habitable zone, or “Goldilocks zone,” is the region around a star where conditions are ideal for liquid water to exist on a planet’s surface.

Since water is crucial for life as we understand it, discovering a planet in this zone is a significant advancement in the search for extraterrestrial life.

Gliese 12 b receives just enough starlight to be slightly inside the inner edge of the habitable zone for red dwarfs. However, whether liquid water actually exists depends on its atmospheric and surface conditions.

In comparison, the starlight it receives is intermediate between the levels Earth and Venus receive from the Sun. Further investigation of Gliese 12 b could help clarify the critical differences between a habitable planet like Earth and an inhospitable one like Venus.

Another exciting aspect of Gliese 12 b is that its relatively close distance to Earth enables more detailed examination of its surface environment.

Atmospheric Transmission Spectroscopy

A particularly valuable method for studying Gliese 12 b, which isn’t applicable to non-transiting planets, is atmospheric transmission spectroscopy. This technique involves analyzing the starlight that filters through a planet’s atmosphere during its transit.

By examining the changes in the light’s spectrum, scientists can deduce the composition of the planet’s atmosphere, identifying gases like oxygen, water, methane, and carbon dioxide, which could hint at biological processes.

The discovery of Gliese 12 b represents a significant step toward identifying potentially habitable planets and understanding the conditions that support life.

Current and upcoming telescopes, such as the James Webb Space Telescope and large ground-based observatories, will be essential for further research. These instruments will enable scientists to conduct in-depth studies of Gliese 12 b’s atmosphere and surface conditions.

The discovery of Gliese 12 b, a nearby potentially habitable exoplanet, is an exhilarating development in the search for Earth-like planets and possibly extraterrestrial life. As we continue to explore the universe, each new finding brings us closer to answering the timeless question: Are we alone in the cosmos?

For now, Gliese 12 b stands as a symbol of hope and curiosity, urging us to explore the possibilities that lie beyond our solar system.

Read the original article on: Science Alert

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