19/12/2025
Astronomers Just Found an Earth-Sized Planet Only 40 Light Years Away — And It Could Be Habitable
Scientists have announced the discovery of Gliese 12 b, an Earth-sized planet located just 40 light years from us. Detected in May 2024 using NASA’s TESS telescope, the planet is almost exactly Earth’s size and likely rocky. It orbits a small, cool red dwarf star called Gliese 12, which is only about 27% the size of our Sun. Even more intriguing — it completes an orbit every 12.8 days, placing it right in the star’s habitable zone.
That means temperatures could be just right for liquid water — and possibly life.
According to researchers, this planet is one of the most promising candidates yet for understanding whether Earth-like worlds can hold onto atmospheres and support stable climates. Gliese 12 is also unusually calm for a red dwarf, producing less harmful radiation that could strip away an atmosphere.
The next step?
Scientists are preparing the James Webb Space Telescope to study Gliese 12 b in detail. Webb will analyze its atmosphere and search for clues such as water v***r, clouds, and even potential biosignatures.
If the planet still has a thin atmosphere, it might resemble a cooler version of Venus or even a close cousin of Earth.
At only 40 light years away, Gliese 12 b is practically a neighbor in cosmic terms — and one of our best chances yet to study what makes a world truly habitable.
Disclaimer: The image used in this post is AI-generated.