Gliese 12b: An Earth-sized planet with a 12-day orbit, just 40 light years away!
Key Takeaways
- Gliese 12b, a potentially habitable Earth-sized planet, lies only 40 light years away.
- Its surface temperature, around 42°C, makes it a contender for liquid water.
- The planet orbits a cool red dwarf star in the Pisces constellation every 12 days.
- Discovered using NASA’s TESS data, it offers insights into planetary atmospheres.
- This finding could help bridge the gap between Earth and Venus in atmospheric research.
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A Nearby Earth-Sized Planet with Potential for Habitability
A groundbreaking discovery has been made by an international team co-led by Shishir Dholakia, a PhD student at the University of Southern Queensland. The team identified a potentially habitable, Earth-sized planet named Gliese 12b, located just 40 light years away in the Pisces constellation. The discovery, detailed in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, represents a significant milestone in the search for extraterrestrial life.
Gliese 12b is roughly the size of Earth or slightly smaller, similar to Venus, with an estimated surface temperature of 42°C. Its orbit around a red dwarf star, Gliese 12, takes only 12 days. Red dwarfs, being cooler and smaller than our Sun, create conditions that make it easier to detect Earth-sized planets due to more noticeable star dimming during planetary transits.
Using NASA’s TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite), the team observed these transits and calculated the planet’s size and temperature. Co-researcher Dholakia described the discovery process as a thrilling “Eureka moment,” noting that the proximity of Gliese 12b makes it an excellent candidate for further atmospheric studies using the James Webb Space Telescope.
Bridging the Gap Between Earth and Venus
Gliese 12b’s location within its star’s habitable zone suggests the possibility of liquid water, a key indicator for habitability. Scientists are particularly interested in studying its atmosphere to understand why Earth and Venus, though similar in size and composition, evolved so differently.
Earth’s atmosphere supports life, while Venus’s dense and hostile atmosphere creates surface conditions hot enough to melt lead. Gliese 12b, receiving an intermediate amount of light compared to Earth and Venus, may help scientists unravel these differences.
The discovery of Gliese 12b not only expands our catalog of exoplanets but also emphasizes the role of red dwarf systems in the hunt for habitable worlds. While 40 light years is far for human exploration, it’s a short distance in astronomical terms, allowing detailed observations of its atmosphere and potential habitability.
As planetary research advances, discoveries like Gliese 12b bring us closer to answering the age-old question: Are we alone in the universe?
