Scientists announced the discovery of a exoplanet that it is located in the habitable zone around its star, meaning that it can exhibit conditions that are favorable for life. This exoplanet, which has yet to be named, is similar in size and composition to Earth. Every detail about it only makes the possibility of life outside our Solar System even more exciting.
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Scientists discover perfect planet to inhabit. Meet Wolf 1069b!
What is habitable zone?
It is the region around a star where the temperature is suitable for the existence of liquid water on the surface of a planet. This is considered one of the fundamental requirements for life as we know it. Although many other exoplanets have already been discovered, most of them are outside the habitable zone or are very different from Earth in size and composition.
Technique used
The team of scientists used the transit technique, where the star's light is monitored to detect small decreases in luminosity, as they can indicate the passage of a planet in front of she. In addition, they also used other means to confirm the existence of the exoplanet and obtain information about its composition and atmosphere.
Wolf 1069b
Finding this exoplanet could be the first step in our quest to locate extraterrestrial life. While we still don't have concrete evidence of life on its soil, the possibility is exciting and raises the need for us to continue to explore the universe for answers.
It also helps us to better understand the nature and the origin of the Earth and the universe in its entirety.
The planet spotted is now nearly the size of our own. Only 1.36 times bigger. It has been named Wolf 1069b and is just 31 light years away from us. The planet was found by a team led by Diana Kossakowski of the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy (MPIA) in Germany.
