Houston, Texas – NASA has recently made a groundbreaking discovery, revealing the presence of a planet 316 million miles away from Earth that has the potential to be habitable. This newly discovered planet, Gliese 12 b, is classified as a “super Earth exoplanet” and is comparable in size to Earth or slightly smaller, as detailed in a recent NASA news release. Exoplanets are planets located outside of our solar system, according to information found on NASA’s official website.
Gliese 12 b orbits around a cool red dwarf star known as Gliese 12, situated 40 light years away from Earth. This star is only about 27% of the size of the sun, with a surface temperature reaching approximately 60% of the sun’s temperature. Scientists at NASA estimate that, in the absence of an atmosphere, the planet’s surface temperature averages around 107 degrees Fahrenheit.
One key aspect that makes red dwarf stars like Gliese 12 ideal for finding Earth-size planets is their significantly smaller size and mass. These characteristics result in a greater dimming effect during each transit and a more pronounced wobble, known as ‘reflex motion,’ of the star caused by an orbiting planet. These phenomena make it easier for astronomers to detect smaller planets.
Researchers emphasize the importance of studying planets like Gliese 12 b in order to deepen our understanding of habitability in our galaxy. The planet’s proximity to its star presents an excellent opportunity to investigate whether Earth-size planets orbiting cooler stars can maintain their atmospheres, a vital step in advancing our knowledge of planetary habitability across different celestial bodies.
NASA researchers are eager to explore more planets similar to Gliese 12 b, as they believe these studies can shed light on various aspects of our solar system’s evolution. By conducting thorough analyses of these planets, scientists hope to uncover valuable insights into the diversity of atmospheres and evolutionary outcomes of Earth-like exoplanets.