Saturday08 February 2025
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A new Earth has been discovered nearby: this planet may be suitable for life.

A recently discovered rocky planet is slightly larger than Earth, yet it resides in the habitable zone of a star similar to our Sun.
Недалеко от нас найдена новая Земля: эта планета, возможно, подходит для жизни.

As of today, astronomers have identified over 7,000 planets within our Milky Way galaxy, each varying in size and composition. Some of these worlds are classified as terrestrial planets, meaning they share a similar size and are rocky like Earth. Such planets particularly intrigue scientists, as they may harbor extraterrestrial life. Researchers, in a study published in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics, have discovered a new potentially habitable planet relatively close to us, as reported by Phys.

It is believed that for life as we know it to exist, a rocky planet is necessary, and it must reside within the habitable zone of its star. This region of space surrounds a star that ideally should resemble the Sun, where conditions allow for liquid water to exist on the planet's surface. Water, as we know, is a crucial component for the emergence of life.

Located 19.5 light-years away from us, which is considered a short distance in cosmic terms, astronomers have discovered a new rocky planet orbiting a star similar to the Sun. The planet, named HD 20794 d, is slightly larger than Earth, thus classifying it as a super-Earth, although astronomers categorize it among terrestrial planets. Additionally, this star system contains two more planets, but little is known about them at this time.

The planet HD 20794 d lies within the habitable zone of its star. For instance, in the case of the Sun, this zone starts at a distance of 0.7 astronomical units and extends to 1.5 astronomical units. To remind you, one astronomical unit is approximately 150,000,000 km. Thus, within our solar system, not only Earth but also Mars is located in the habitable zone. Scientists have determined that HD 20794 d completes a full orbit around its version of our Sun in 647 days, which is about 40 days longer than Mars takes to orbit our star.

Astronomers have found that the super-Earth has an elliptical rather than a circular orbit. Therefore, at its farthest point in the orbit, it is located 2 astronomical units from its star, while at its closest point, it is at a distance of 0.75 astronomical units. Earth, on the other hand, is situated at a distance of 1 astronomical unit from the Sun.

Astronomers believe that if water exists on the planet, it should have transitioned from a frozen state to a liquid state as it approached its star, potentially leading to the emergence of life.

Given the proximity of this planet to us, astronomers will be able to thoroughly study its atmosphere and chemical composition, allowing for more accurate conclusions regarding the planet's potential habitability.