Scientists believe that the temperature on the planet is not too high and that there may be liquid water.
Astronomers have found a new planet outside the solar system with a fairly moderate temperature and the size of Earth, 40 light-years away from us. By cosmic standards this is close. The results of the research are presented in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, reports ScienceAlert.
The new planet, called Gliese 12 b, orbits a red dwarf star. These stars are smaller than our Sun and have a lower temperature, but they are the most common type of star in the Milky Way. It is believed that alien life may exist on rocky planets orbiting red dwarfs.
Although red dwarfs often emit radiation too powerful to harm potential life on surrounding planets, Gliese 12 exhibits low activity. And it’s one of only two red dwarf stars within 100 light-years of us, surrounded by an Earth-sized planet with relatively low radiation levels.
Planet Gliese 12 b is not only comparable in size to Earth, but is also in the habitable zone of its star. This means it could have a composition and surface conditions similar to those of our planet.
Scientists suggest that the average temperature on this planet is just over 40 degrees Celsius, which is considered relatively temperate.
The planet’s location in the star’s habitable zone means that liquid water can exist on its surface. Because water is essential to life as we know it, this world could potentially be habitable.
But the presence of liquid water on planet Gliese 12 b also depends on the atmosphere and surface conditions.
To find out the composition of the atmosphere and obtain more data about the planet itself, scientists plan to conduct additional research. The study authors say that if oxygen, water, methane and carbon dioxide are found in the atmosphere, this could indicate biological processes.
Another characteristic of planet Gliese 12 b is that it receives roughly average levels of radiation from its star compared to what Earth and Venus receive from the Sun. That is, the level of radiation is slightly higher than on Earth, but much less than on Venus.
The discovery of planet Gliese 12 b is an important step toward finding habitable planets and better understanding the conditions that support life.
The relatively close location of a potentially habitable planet allows scientists to obtain a lot of detailed information about it.
