BREAKING: Astronomers find a new potentially HABITABLE planet

A group of 50 astronomers have confirmed the discovery of an exoplanet called Wolf 1069 b, which is similar to earth and potentially habitable.

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Habitable planet a rare find 

Astronomers have discovered more than 5000 exoplanets, but only about 1.5% have masses below two Earth masses.

This according to a study by the Max Planck Institute for Astrology.

Just about a dozen of these planets populate the so-called circumstellar habitable zone, the range in a planetary system where water can maintain a liquid form on the planet’s surface. 

MPIA scientist Diana Kossakowski led a team of astronomers who discovered Wolf 1069 b, an Earth-mass exoplanet orbiting in the habitable zone of the red dwarf star Wolf 1069.

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Although the planet is probably tidally locked to its path around the parent star, the team is optimistic that it may provide durable habitable conditions across a wide area of its dayside. 

Wolf 1069 b has a higher chance of retaining its atmosphere due to the absence of any apparent stellar activity or intense UV radiation. 

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It is therefore one of only a handful of promising targets to search for habitability markers and biosignatures.

“When we analyzed the data of the star Wolf 1069, we discovered a clear, low-amplitude signal of what appears to be a planet of roughly Earth mass,” Kossakowski said.

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Comparing it to Mercury

Mercury, the closest planet to our sun, has an orbital period of 88 days, resulting in surface temperatures that can reach as high as 430 degrees Celsius. 

However, despite its much shorter 15.6-day orbital period, Wolf 1069 b is located within its star habitable zone. 

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This is due to the fact that its star is a red dwarf, which is much smaller than our sun. 

As a result, Wolf 1069 b receives approximately 65% of the solar radiance that Earth receives. 

Its prospects for habitability are thus improved, with relatively desirable surface temperatures ranging between minus 95.15 and 12.85 degrees Celsius, and an average temperature of minus 40.14 Celsius.

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