Thrilling news for space enthusiasts! Scientists have uncovered a new exoplanet, Gliese 12-b, that holds promise for harboring life.
Gliese 12-b, slightly larger than Venus but smaller than Earth, was discovered using NASA‘s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS). This exciting find is detailed in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. Notably, Gliese 12-b is the closest potentially habitable exoplanet identified to date, residing approximately 40 light-years away in the constellation Pisces.
The University College London played a pivotal role in this discovery. Dr. Larissa Palethorpe, a researcher involved in the project, commented, “The proximity of this transiting planet to Earth is particularly intriguing. There’s a chance its star lies within the habitable zone or may have evolved to become suitable for life.”
Gliese 12-b orbits a small star, and according to the study, its average surface temperature is a moderate 42 degrees Celsius (107 degrees Fahrenheit) – cooler than most of the over 5,200 exoplanets discovered so far. Earth, in comparison, boasts an average surface temperature of 15 degrees Celsius (59 degrees Fahrenheit).
While the prospect of visiting Gliese 12-b is enticing, scientists dampen expectations slightly. With our current fastest spacecraft, the journey would take a staggering 2.25 million years.
