Breaking News There’s an Earth-like Planet Next Door!

Astronomers have confirmed the existence of Proxima B, an Earth-like exoplanet orbiting Proxima Centauri, our closest stellar neighbor. Proxima B is a rocky planet with 1.3 times Earth's mass, located 4.24 light-years away. It orbits a red dwarf star closely, potentially allowing for liquid water. The discovery was confirmed through extensive observations of the star's Doppler shift, ruling out star spots as a cause. Despite its proximity, Proxima B's habitability remains uncertain due to unknown atmospheric conditions and radiation exposure. Future research aims to study its atmosphere using advanced telescopes like TESS and the James Webb Space Telescope.

What challenges do researchers face in studying Proxima B?

What future missions are planned to learn more about Proxima B's atmosphere?