Earth-Like World Found Orbiting the Nearest Star to the Sun

An Exoplanet is Just Next Door!

An international team of scientists from nine countries announced that an earth-like world has been found orbiting the nearest star Proxima Centauri, the closest star to our sun.

The discoverers named the new planet Proxima Centauri b which is 4.2 light years away from home.

The team is headed by Dr. Guillem Anglada-Escud of the Queen Mary University of London with the collaboration of Dr. Aviv Ofir from Weizmann Institute of Sciences.

Meet Proxima Centauri b

Scientists calculated that Proxima Centauri b has a mass of at least 1.3 times that of Earth. It takes only 11 days for the newly discovered planet to orbit its sun.

Since its sun is so dim, the temperature on Proxima Centauri b is warm enough for liquid water. The range of distances where a planet’s temperature permits liquid water is commonly referred to as the habitable zone.

The newly discovered planet was discovered with an observatory in Chile. However, the earth-mass planet cannot be seen in Israel. The scientists explained that the planet is below the southern horizon, making it unobservable from the Middle East all year round.

How Proxima Centauri b was Discovered

Proxima Centauri b was discovered through measurements of the radial velocity of the star. These measurements depend on the Doppler effect, also known as the shift in wavelength as an object moves closer or away from the viewer.

According to the scientists, the star is moving at a speed of about a meter a second (or 3.6 km/h) towards and away from Earth. The scientists explain that the orbiting planet and its star are both orbiting a shared center of gravity.

Since the mass of the star is greater than that of its planets, that center of gravity is usually close to center of the star, and planets make the star’s motion appear as a wobble. Interestingly, this wobble can be detected by today’s instruments.

Proxima Centauri is a red dwarf a star with a diameter about one-seventh that of our Sun, and far dimmer. It gives off only 1/600 the light of our Sun.

A habitable planet orbiting the star Proxima Centauri
A habitable planet orbiting the star Proxima Centauri

Hot this week

Did David Wineland and Serge Haroche Steal Idea For The Nobel Physics Prize?

Dr. Omerbashich says the Royal Swedish Academy is a Crime Scene and he has the proof that Nobel laureates stole his discovery.

New Approaches to Disaster Relief Challenges

Disaster relief has always been a challenge. NASA, Google,...

3 Legitimate Money Making Methods to Supplement Your Income

In a perfect world, when your landlord raises your...

2016 Predictions by World Renowned Medium and Psychic Lindy Baker

World renowned medium and psychic Lindy Baker is interviewed by The Hollywood Sentinel, discussing psychic power, the spirit world, life after death, areas of concern in 2016, and much more.

Digital Coupon Customers Spending More Than Double At Stores

A new study shows that customers who use digital coupons go shopping more for groceries and other household goods more often and spend more on their shopping trips.

Morality And Bombing – 2003-To-2025

Morality and Bombing, what changed between 2003 and 2025 that stopped Israel protecting its people, but no longer does?

CEPM Is Redefining Cloud Efficiency—One Engineering Workflow at a Time

Cloud cost management has centered around dashboards, alerts, and...

RFK Jr. Announces U.S. Withdrawal from WHO, Calls for ‘New Era’ in Global Health Cooperation

RFK Jr. says U.S. will exit WHO, citing COVID failures and political bias, urges new global health body focused on transparency and chronic disease.

Forensic Science Breakthrough: Genealogy DNA Testing Identifies 39-year-old Skeletal Remains

In a groundbreaking case that merges genealogy and forensic science, the skeletal remains of a body known as John Doe were identified.

A Double Life – Makes a Docbusting Story

A Double Life is a documentary withTrue crime, Treachery, Tragic victim, Self-sacrificing hero, Omnipotent villain and International subterfuge.

Beyond Points: What to Expect at Loyalty360—and Why Blings Is Poised to Steal the Show

When marketers talk about “loyalty,” they often focus on...

Nuclear Power Fuels One-Fifth of U.S. Electricity as Oldest Reactors Keep Running

Illinois leads U.S. nuclear power output as aging reactors still run strong and Georgia's Vogtle Unit 3 signals a rare expansion.

Related Articles

Popular Categories