Astronomers have discovered a rare type of planet called an exo-Venus with a similar temperature to Earth, located in our cosmic back yard.
Astronomers have discovered a rare type of planet called an “exo-Venus,” which is between the size of Earth and Venus and is located just 40 light-years away — practically in our back yard. Although scientists think that planets of this size could be very common in our galaxy, they are hard to identify because they are so much smaller than the big gas giants that are more commonly discovered.
Recommended Videos However, that estimate assumes that the planet doesn’t have an atmosphere. It could be without atmosphere, have an Earth-like atmosphere, or it could have an extremely thick atmosphere like Venus, which could raise its temperature to hundreds of degrees. Researchers are keen to learn whether there is an atmosphere there, not only to know about its habitability but also so they can learn about how atmospheres develop around rocky planets.
A big topic of research in planetary science right now is why Earth and Venus diverged. The planets are a similar size and distance from the sun, and could once have been similar. But today, the Earth is teeming with life and Venus is a hellish world of extreme temperature and pressure. Studying planets like Gliese 12 b could help explain how this divergence occurred and whether Earth-like or Venus-like is the more common outcome.
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