A potential Neptune-to Saturn-sized planet that 'could be suitable for life' has been discovered in the habitable zone of our nearest star system. The exoplanet, dubbed 'C1,' was spotted in the Alpha Centauri triple star system a mere 4.4 light-years from Earth.
Alpha Centauri consists of three stars named Alpha Centauri A, B, and C. Since 2016, astronomers have found evidence for at least two potentially habitable exoplanets in orbit of Alpha Centauri C, a red dwarf better known as Proxima Centauri. However, there has been some debate about the possibility of life-supporting planets near red dwarf stars since they are small and dim, and habitable zones lie very close in. This may prove problematic as it is unclear if their habitable-zone worlds can hold onto their atmospheres for long.
Now, the new research suggests that Alpha Centauri A could host at least one potentially habitable exoplanet of its own.
The team used a new instrument called NEAR (New Earths in the AlphaCen Region) attached to the Very Large Telescope (VLT) in the Chilean desert, which is operated by the European Southern Observatory (ESO).
The planet has not yet been confirmed, so it remains just a candidate for now.
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