Nearby ‘super-Earth’ may support life
17 Dec 2012 by Evoluted New Media
An international team of astronomers have discovered an alien planet, believed to have a similar climate to Earth, which might be able to support life. The planet is located a mere 42 light years away from Earth, meaning future telescopes may be able to image it directly. The so called ‘super-Earth’ planet HD 40307g exists in the habitable zone of a nearby star HD 40307 and is part of a 6 planet system.
One of the lead researchers, Guillem Angla-Escude from the University of Goettingen said: “The star HD 40307, is a perfectly quiet old dwarf star, so there is no reason why such a planet could not sustain an Earth-like climate.”
The system was previously thought to contain just three planets, all too close to the star to support liquid water needed for life. However, the team reanalysed previous data from the HD 40307 system and by avoiding fake signals caused by stellar activity, - using novel data analysis techniques which included using the wavelength as a filter to reduce the signals from HD 40307 - were able to identify three new super-Earth planet candidates.
Of these candidates, the one in outermost orbit from the star is of greatest interest. This planet has a mass seven times that of Earth, but its orbit around HD 40307 is similar in distance to the Earth from the sun. Consequently, the planet is more likely to be habitable.
Astronomer Hugh Jones from the University of Hertfordshire added: “The longer orbit of the new planet means that its climate and atmosphere may be just right to support life. Just as Goldilocks liked her porridge to be neither too hot nor too cold but just right, this planet or indeed any moons that is has lie in an orbit comparable to Earth, increasing the probability of it being habitable.”
The super-Earth planet candidate looks to be rotating on its axis as it orbits around the star creating a daytime and night-time effect, an additional Earth-like feature.
"Discoveries like this are really exciting, and such systems will be natural targets for the next generation of large telescopes, both on the ground and in space," added Mikko Tuomi who led the research at University of Hertfordshire.
