Scientists want to search for signs of life on this rare planet
Recently discovered, Wolf 1069 b is an Earth-mass exoplanet in the habitable zone of its star.
A team led by Max Planck Institute for Astronomy (MPIA) scientist Diana Kossakowski has discovered an exoplanet orbiting the red dwarf star Wolf 1069. Named Wolf 1069 b, it is a world potentially habitable rock located “only” (in spatial terms) 31 light-years from Earth. Exoplanets are located outside our solar system. The study on this new world was the subject of a publication in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics .
Wolf 1069 b has a mass similar to that of Earth. According to an MPIA statement , of the more than 5,000 exoplanets discovered so far, only about 1.5% have a mass less than two Earth masses and only a dozen of them are in the habitable zone of their star, where liquid water might exist. In other words, Wolf 1069 b is a rarity among known exoplanets.
It takes 15.6 days for the planet to revolve around its star. Fortunately, the red dwarf is cooler and emits far less radiation than our Sun, so Wolf 1069 b isn't automatically charred by its proximity. One side of the planet is always facing the star while the other side is always at night.
Wolf 1069 b could be studied within a decade
As MPIA notes, it takes more than liquid water to make a planet habitable. It is possible that Wolf 1069 b has a protective atmosphere that would help make its surface hospitable to liquid water and life on its perpetual day side.
In any case, the planet's mass, location, rocky composition, and possible atmosphere make it a perfect target to search for signs of life. " Because of its favorable habitability outlook, it is one of an illustrious small group of targets, such as Proxima Centauri b and Trappist-1 e, to search for biosignatures, " says the MPIA. “ Alas, such observations are currently beyond the capabilities of astronomical research. Proxima Centauri b and Trappist-1 e are two other exoplanets with similar characteristics to Earth.
Diana Kossakowski estimates that it will take another decade before science progresses enough to be able to search for signs of life on Wolf 1069 b.
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