Earth remains an easier name to pronounce. Researchers from the University of Warwick (England), in collaboration with NASA and ESA, confirmed in a study published on Thursday May 23, 2024 the existence of a new potentially habitable planet. “This is a truly exciting discovery that will facilitate our search for Earth-like planets in our galaxy.”rejoiced astrophysicist Thomas Wilson at the BBC.
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Water in liquid state
Baptized “Gliese 12 b”, this exoplanet is located more than 40 light years from our solar system. It orbits a cool red dwarf star in the constellation Pisces. This star is about 27% smaller than our Sun and only reaches 60% of its temperature.
According to BBC, it is one of the few identified rocky planets where human life could theoretically be possible. Like the Earth around the Sun, Gliese 12b is located at a sufficient distance for water to exist in a liquid state.
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A temperature of 42°C
Assuming that Gliese 12 b has no atmosphere, scientists estimate that the temperature on its surface is around 42°C. A temperature comparable to that recorded in the United Kingdom during the summer of 2022, notes the BBC.
“The exciting thing is that this planet is the closest planet to Earth, in terms of size and temperature, that we know of”declared astrophysicist Thomas Wilson to our Anglo-Saxon colleagues.
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A journey of 225,000 years
However, scientists do not yet know the exact composition of this planet’s atmosphere. Data from NASA and ESA satellites on its size, temperature and distance from Earth, however, suggest the possible presence of water, a crucial element for life.
Unfortunately, Gliese 12 b is located 12 parsecs from Earth, astrophysicist Larissa Palethorpe told CNN. To put this distance into perspective, it would take around 225,000 years to reach this exoplanet with current space rockets. “Despite the discouraging distance, this discovery opens the way to new perspectives in the search for habitable exoplanets” added Larissa Palethorpe.
