New Temperate Planet That Could Support Human Life Discovered in Pisces Constellation

By Good News Network – May 25, 2024

Scientists from the University of Warwick, in collaboration with NASA, have discovered a new Earth-sized planet, named Gliese 12 b, which could potentially support human life. This planet, located 40 light years away in the Pisces constellation, was identified using NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS).

Key Features of Gliese 12 b

• Surface Temperature: Approximately 42°C (107°F), making it one of the few known rocky planets where humans could theoretically survive.
• Size and Orbit: Earth-sized with an orbit around its star every 12.8 days.
• Atmosphere: Still under investigation, but its depth is comparable to that of Venus.

Discovery and Significance

The planet orbits a cool red dwarf star named Gliese 12, which is about one-quarter the size of our Sun and has about 60% of its surface temperature. Gliese 12 b receives 1.6 times more energy from its star than Earth does from the Sun, which places it in a potentially habitable zone.

Warwick Professor of Physics, Thomas Wilson, emphasized the importance of this discovery for understanding planets similar to Earth. The light reaching us from Gliese 12 b is from 40 years ago, highlighting the vast distances involved in space exploration.

Research and Collaboration

The discovery was made possible through the combined efforts of scientists from universities in the UK and US, using data from NASA’s TESS. This planet is the closest Earth-sized temperate planet discovered to date and provides a unique opportunity for further atmospheric study.

Atmospheric and Evolutionary Studies

Michael McElwain from NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center pointed out the significance of studying Gliese 12 b to understand the diversity of atmospheres around temperate planets. Unlike many red dwarfs, Gliese 12 shows no signs of extreme magnetic activity or frequent powerful X-ray flares, which bodes well for the stability of its atmosphere.

Larissa Palethorpe, a doctoral student at the University of Edinburgh and University College London, highlighted the potential of Gliese 12 b to provide insights into the habitability pathways of planets. By comparing Gliese 12 b’s atmosphere to those of Earth and Venus, scientists hope to learn more about why Earth remains habitable while Venus does not.

Future Implications

The discovery of Gliese 12 b will aid astronomers in finding more Earth-like planets and understanding the conditions necessary for habitability. Further analysis of the Gliese 12 system could reveal important evolutionary and compositional trends, helping scientists infer the number of true Earth analogues in our galaxy and deepen our understanding of our place in the Universe.

This discovery marks a significant step forward in the search for habitable planets beyond our solar system and opens new avenues for research into the atmospheric and environmental conditions that support life.

Sophia H.