Closest planet ever discovered outside solar system could be habitable with a dayside ocean

In August of 2016, astronomers from the European Southern Observatory (ESO) confirmed the existence of an Earth-like planet around Proxima Centauri – the closest star to our solar system. In addition, they confirmed that this planet (Proxima b) orbited within its star's habitable zone. Since then, multiple studies have been conducted to determine if Proxima b could in fact be habitable.

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Credit: CfA

Artist’s depiction of a watery exoplanet orbiting a distant red dwarf star. New research indicates that Proxima b could be especially watery.

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In 2016 the Pale Red Dot team discovered a planet around Proxima Centauri, the closest star to our Sun.

Using ESO’s exoplanet hunter, HARPS, they are about to continue the hunt for the nearest exoplanets

This artist’s video impression shows how the newly discovered belts of dust around the closest star to the Solar System, Proxima Centauri, may look.

ALMA observations revealed the glow coming from cold dust in a region between one to four times as far from Proxima Centauri as the Earth is from the Sun.

The data also hint at the presence of an even cooler outer dust belt and indicate the presence of an elaborate planetary system.

These structures are similar to the much larger belts in the Solar System and are also expected to be made from particles of rock and ice that failed to form planets.

Wow, right away that looks a bit similar to Earth. Wouldn't that be amazing. Sounds promising