Earth-Sized Planet With Life Possibility Found 40 Light-Years Away

Astronomers have located an exoplanet ‘Gliese 12 b’, located 40 light-years away in the constellation Pisces, which is said to be potentially habitable.

The finding was published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

As per the research paper, Gliese 12 b is slightly smaller than Earth and its size is similar to that of Venus. It has an estimated surface temperature of 42 degrees Celsius. Although it is warmer than Earth’s average temperature, yet it is cooler than many other exoplanets.

The temperature on this planet increases the possibility of liquid water on its surface, a key factor for life to survive.

But nothing about the atmosphere of Gliese 12 b has been ascertained. It may have an Earth-like atmosphere, making it a potential site for life. It may also have a sweltering atmosphere like Venus, or no atmosphere at all. The possibility of an entirely different kind of atmosphere is also possible.

Shishir Dholakia, a doctoral student at the Centre for Astrophysics at the University of Southern Queensland in Australia, co-led the research team that made the discovery alongside Larissa Palethorpe, a doctoral student at the University of Edinburgh and University College London.