Earth-Like Closest Exoplanet Discovered. Named Proxima b

Researchers have discovered a new, rocky planet and believed to have possibilities of life outside our solar system.

Named as Proxima b, the exoplanet orbits Proxima Centauri, which the closest star to our sun. It is said liquid water could exist on it and dream of astronomers could come true with follow-up observation.

Researchers said due to its location the Proxima b could provide an opportunity for possible “robotic exploration in future.

It is said the newly discovered exoplanet is just 4.2 light-years away from our solar system. The closest rocky exoplanet earlier was 40 light-years away. It is red dwarf star TRAPPIST-1.

Researcher Pedro Amado said, “The only thing you can hope to find between that is Planet Nine, but that would (require) a solar system object or a brown dwarf that hasn’t been discovered.”

Proxima b has a surface and is not like a gas giant like Jupiter. It is bigger than Earth by 1.3 times and takes 11.2 days to orbit its star. Its distance from much cooler Proxima Centauri is just 5 percent the distance between the Earth and the sun. It is even closer to its star than what Mercury is from the sun.

Researchers said the exoplanet is suitable for liquid water on its surface without evaporating and its atmosphere could be between 86 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit temperature.

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