A potentially habitable exoplanet, named GJ 357 d, has been discovered, and it’s remarkably close to Earth in terms of astronomical distances. This exoplanet is estimated to be about six times larger than Earth and orbits the red dwarf star GJ 357. What makes it even more intriguing is its proximity to our Solar System, at just 31 light-years away.
After careful observation and analysis by an international team of astronomers, GJ 357 d appears to meet the necessary conditions for life, similar to Earth. Dr. Lisa Kaltenegger, Director of the Carl Sagan Institute at Cornell University in New York, suggests that GJ 357 d, with its dense atmosphere, could maintain liquid water on its surface, potentially allowing for the development of life. Researchers are eager to investigate further and look for signs of life on this planet.
The distance from its host star is neither too close nor too far, making it an exciting candidate for potential habitability. GJ 357 d, often referred to as a “super-Earth,” has a temperature of around -64 degrees Celsius, but its thick atmosphere could provide some warmth, preventing it from becoming entirely frozen and fostering conditions conducive to life.
Graphic of the planet GJ 357 d. Image: space.com.
This exoplanet was discovered using NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), which has the mission of scanning more than 85% of the sky. Since July 2018, TESS has identified over 20 exoplanets.
In the coming years, TESS aims to survey over 200,000 of the brightest stars to search for signs of life on planets within their habitable zones. Apart from GJ 357 d, TESS has identified two other planets within the same solar system, GJ 357 b and GJ 357 c, which are significantly hotter and less likely to support life due to their surface temperatures.
Advanced tools like the James Webb Space Telescope (scheduled to launch in 2021 to replace the Hubble Space Telescope) and the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) in Chile (expected to become operational in 2025) will help in further investigations, including examining the exoplanet’s atmosphere for oxygen and determining whether its surface features include land or oceans.
The discovery of a potentially Earth-like and habitable exoplanet like GJ 357 d, located so close to our Solar System, provides hope for the search for extraterrestrial life beyond Earth and our Solar System.