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Habitablezone

All articles tagged with #habitablezone

space6 days ago•14 min saved

Nearby Habitable-Zone Super-Earth GJ 251 c Poised for Direct Imaging

UC Irvine researchers report GJ 251 c, a rocky super-Earth with a minimum mass of about 3.8 Earth masses in the habitable zone of the nearby red dwarf GJ 251 (roughly 18 light-years away). Found via two decades of radial-velocity data, it orbits in ~53.65 days and could be a prime nearby target for direct imaging with the next generation of giant ground-based telescopes, though its radius, atmosphere and true habitability remain unknown and the habitable-zone designation does not guarantee it is Earth-like due to tidal effects and stellar activity.

via Space Daily|

#directimaging #exoplanet #gj251c

space3 months ago•74 min saved

Targeting nearby red dwarfs could guide a real 'Hail Mary' interstellar mission

A new study in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society narrows 45 exoplanets most likely to host life and argues that focusing on smaller, cooler red dwarfs increases the chance of finding habitable worlds. It highlights TRAPPIST-1 and Proxima Centauri as compelling nearby targets (the latter only 4.25 light-years away; the former with seven rocky planets in its habitable zone), while TOI-715 sits farther at about 139 light-years. The researchers also note 24 “planets on the edge” whose potential for life may not require Earthlike liquid water. Tau Ceti is unlikely to host habitable planets, but the study’s framework suggests where to send a hypothetical interstellar probe, echoing themes from Project Hail Mary and encouraging creative search strategies.

via Space|

#exoplanets #habitablezone #proximacentauri