Habitable planet found in solar system next door

The European Southern Observatory has been searching for planets orbiting Proxima Centauri, the nearest star to our solar system for years. “Proxima b” probably has an average surface temperature of around minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit, and liquid water could exist in places on the planet.

The worldwide team, led by scientists from Queen Mary University of London, discovered the new planet after observing a “doppler wobble” – the effect caused by the planet’s gravitational tug on the motion of its host star. Even so, Astronomers long wondered what was orbiting the star, and launched the Pale Red Dot campaign earlier this year to study Proxima Centauri’s unique stellar ballet.

A planet with the possible presence of liquid water on its surface has been discovered orbiting Proxima Centauri, the Sun’s nearest neighbour, scientists have said, according to Reuters.

“The spectacular finding about this of course is that this system is so close to our Earth and solar system”, said Angsgar Reiners, a German scientist who is among the research’s co-authors.

“We have no clue whether this planet has an atmosphere or not, whether it has water or not”.

And the new planet, Proxima B is not very far – considering the vastness of our universe- from ours.

Given it’s the closest exoplanet we know of that could harbor life or be our second home if somebody is irresponsible with nuclear codes, Proxima b is a likely first destination for interstellar probes, when the technology allows.

A planet so near to our Sun – 21 times closer than Earth – would be an unlivable white-hot ball of fire.

The only known process that could produce such a periodic motion is the gravitational interplay between the star and a planet.

Most exoplanets that have been discovered are gas giants, like Jupiter in our solar system, because astronomers look for the wobble in the star caused by a massive planet’s orbit. But because that star is much dimmer, it is still within the habitable zone where there could be water on the planet – and, as a effect, life.

Researchers said due to its location the Proxima b could provide an opportunity for possible “robotic exploration in future”. But at a little more than four light-years away, a trip to the planet wouldn’t be short – Endl said it would take about 80,000 years for a contemporary spacecraft to reach it.

Scientists haven’t actually seen Proxima b. It’s not clear yet whether the planet has an atmosphere or a magnetic field.