The existence of a planet the size of Earth around the closest star to the Sun, Proxima Centauri, has been confirmed by an international team of scientists including researchers from the University of Geneva (UNIGE). The results, published in Astronomy & Astrophysics, reveal that the planet in question, Proxima b, has a mass of 1.17 Earth masses and is located in…
Tag: proxima
Why clouds form near black holes
Clouds in the greater universe are clumpy areas of greater density than their surroundings. Space telescopes have observed these cosmic clouds in the vicinity of supermassive black holes. Source: https://earthsky.org/space/cosmic-clouds-form-near-black-holes…
Our nearest star system may have a planet with a colossal set of rings
We know that there is at least one planet orbiting Proxima Centauri, the nearest star to our solar system, and now astronomers may have taken the first picture of a second world Source: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2241334-our-nearest-star-system-may-have-a-planet-with-a-colossal-set-of-rings/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home…
Two (potentially) exciting new exoplanet discoveries
Scientists just announced 2 new exciting updates about exoplanets. One is a potentially habitable world similar in size and temperature to Earth. The other is a possible new planet – possibly with rings – orbiting the closest star to our sun, Proxima Centauri. Source: https://earthsky.org/space/exoplanets-kepler-1649c-proxima-centauri-c-nasa-seti-institute-sphere-vlt…
Astronomers might have imaged a ringed planet around Proxima Centauri
In 2016, astronomers working for the European Southern Observatory (ESO) confirmed the existence of a terrestrial planet around Earth’s closest stellar neighbor—Proxima Centauri. The discovery of this nearby extrasolar planet (Proxima b) caused no shortage of excitement because, in addition to being similar in size to Earth, it was found to orbit within the star’s habitable zone (HZ). Source: https://phys.org/news/2020-04-astronomers-imaged-planet-proxima-centauri.html…
Solar flares and cosmic rays may make Proxima b warm enough for life
Proxima Centauri b, a planet orbiting our nearest stellar neighbour, is being blasted with cosmic rays and solar flares – which could make it warm enough to host life Source: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2237310-solar-flares-and-cosmic-rays-may-make-proxima-b-warm-enough-for-life/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home…
Is there a 2nd planet orbiting Proxima Centauri?
Proxima Centauri, the closest star to our sun, may have a second planet, according to researchers from the National Institute of Astrophysics. If confirmed, it would be an ideal candidate for direct imaging by new upcoming space telescopes. Source: https://earthsky.org/space/is-there-a-2nd-planet-orbiting-proxima-centauri…
Possible discovery of a new super-Earth orbiting Proxima Centauri
Astronomers have discovered another candidate exoplanet orbiting our neighbor Proxima Centauri. A paper announcing these results was just published in the journal Science Advances. If confirmed, it will be the second exoplanet discovered to be orbiting the star. Source: https://phys.org/news/2020-01-discovery-super-earth-orbiting-proxima-centauri.html…
Exoplanet-tilt study boosts hope of complex life elsewhere
Most sunlike stars have at least one other star as a companion. Prior research has shown planets can exist in these systems, but how likely are these planets to evolve complex life? A new study sheds some light, by looking at how planets spin in double star systems. Source: https://earthsky.org/space/exoplanets-axial-tilt-evolution-of-complex-life-earth…
TESS spacecraft is finding hundreds of exoplanets
… and it’s poised to find thousands more. But will we find another Earth? Source: https://earthsky.org/space/tess-spacecraft-finding-exoplanets…