The discovery of a roughly Earth-size planet around Proxima Centauri, the nearest star to Earth, has generated a lot of buzz, and even speculation that a robotic probe may visit the world in the coming decades. After publishing their findings in the journal Nature last week, a public dialogue ensued on whether or not the newly discovered planet could sustain life since Proxima b is Earth sized and located in a “habitable zone”-an area where liquid water can exist on Earth-like planets”. The faint red star in the center of the red circle is Proxima Centauri.
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As we’ve previously discussed, the habitable zone describes the range of distances from a star with the right temperature for liquid water to exist.
To find out more about this unbelievable discovery, we spoke with NASA Exoplanet Program Scientist for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, Dr. Marin Still, on Facebook Live about what this discovery means, and what we should do next.
Another concern is that the planet might be tidally locked, meaning one side permanently faces its star, as the moon does Earth.
The biggest obstacle to life on Proxima b is the fact that it is 25 times closer to its star than the Earth is to the Sun.
Essentially, the only real answer there is about habitability on Proxima b is that more research is required and there is no definitive answer.
However, there’s a chance that volcanic activity could have restored the atmosphere, particularly if that planet has strong, insulating magnetic fields.
Clear signs of life on Proxima b would be one of the greatest scientific discoveries of all time. “Whether habitable or not, Proxima b offers a new glimpse into how planets and life fit into our universe”.
Next come a host of questions about the planet’s makeup, location and history, and the team’s work toward discerning answers.
“Proxima’s brightness evolution has been slow and complicated”, Barnes writes.
Planetary laboratory researchers also are developing techniques to determine whether Proxima b’s atmosphere is amenable to life.
Our own sun is expected to burn out in about 4 billion years, but Proxima Centauri has a much better forecast, perhaps burning for 4 trillion years longer.
Dr Barnes wrote: “If Proxima b is habitable, it might be an ideal place to move”.
Scientists hope to eventually use more advanced telescopes to directly view the planet. “The challenges are huge, but Proxima b offers a bounty of possibilities that fills me with wonder”.
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Astronomers, geophysicists, climatologists and biologists are now working together to ponder the possibility of life on Proxima b.
