A recent study has revealed the discovery of a potentially habitable exoplanet that is similar in size to Earth and located in a system 40 light years away.
Named Gliese 12b, the planet is roughly the size of Venus but slightly smaller than Earth, and it is believed to have the potential to support life due to its warm temperatures.
This exoplanet orbits a star that is only 27% the size of the Sun, with an orbital period of 12.8 days. The presence of an atmosphere on Gliese 12b has not been confirmed yet.
Researchers estimate that the surface temperature of Gliese 12b is around 107 degrees Fahrenheit (42 degrees Celsius), making it cooler than most other exoplanets discovered thus far.
The study, published in the Monthly Bulletin of the Royal Astronomical Society, emphasizes the importance of potentially habitable conditions on Gliese 12b, including the possibility of liquid water on its surface.
Scientists are excited to further investigate exoplanets like Gliese 12b using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, set to launch in 2021 with advanced instruments for studying exoplanet atmospheres.
This discovery could provide valuable insights into exoplanet habitability and offer clues about the evolution of our own solar system.
Gliese 12b’s unique temperature range between Earth and Venus could reveal significant information about habitability as the planet progresses, according to co-author Larissa Palethorpe.
NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey satellite played a crucial role in discovering Gliese 12b by monitoring changes in star brightness, indicating the presence of orbiting planets.
Source: www.nbcnews.com
