The next star over has a planet that’s kinda like ours.
Astronomers just discovered the closest possible Earth-like planet outside our solar system. It orbits our closest neighboring star, Proxima Centauri. The planet is warm enough for liquid water, is almost certainly rocky and terrestrial, and could even have an atmosphere. At just 4.2 light years away, scientists are even wondering if this may be the closest home for life outside our solar system.
“THIS MAY BE A HISTORIC MOMENT.”
“What’s amazing is how close it is,” says Jeff Coughlin, a SETI astronomer working with NASA’s Kepler planet-hunting mission, who was not involved in the discovery. “There’s nothing in physics that would keep us from sending a probe to Proxima B within the next few decades, even with just current day technology.”
“The exoplanet, Proxima b, has been discovered and scientists say it could likely support life. Josh King has the story”
