Is there a rocky world orbiting our nearest stellar neighbor?
In short: Astronomers have found evidence of a terrestrial planet orbiting Proxima Centauri, the closest star to our Sun. This video explores the discovery of this potentially habitable super-Earth and the data behind its orbital characteristics.
Discovered in 2016 using the radial velocity method, Proxima Centauri b orbits an M-type star. Located approximately 0.048 AU from its host, the planet sits within the star's habitable zone.
With a mass roughly 1.055 times that of Earth, researchers suggest this world is likely a terrestrial planet. Its short orbital period is just 11.2 days.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Proxima b - Exoplanet Discovered Around Nearest Star To Sun
- Also: Proxima Centauri b - NASA Science
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