During the past months of this year, an Earth-like planet, the Proxima B has been discovered by NASA which is situated close to Proxima Centauri, the nearest star to our sun. The planet is said to be life sustaining because of the similar features that it has with our planet. On recent studies, life on Proxima B might be possible because it has an ocean. This planet's entire surface is covered with a liquid ocean.
Proxima B Newly Discovered Features
Proxima B is said to have a large liquid ocean which covers the whole surface of the planet which is according to analysis, it may have the similar water that might also be lurking in the subsurface of the icy moons of Jupiter and Saturn. The ocean stretches 200 kilometers deep. The planet comes also with a thin atmosphere which is very similar to Earth.
According to Space.com, the team also discovered that the planet has the same core composition as Mercury. It is made out of metal which comprises the two-thirds of the planet's mass. The distance of the planet to Proxima Centauri is within the inhabitable zone which gives the fair temperature to the planet keeping liquid water present on the surface of Proxima B.
Other Studies And Verdicts on Proxima B
The new study was conducted by an international team led by the researchers at the Marseille Astrophysics Laboratory (CNRS/Aix-Marseille Universite) and to be published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters. They have discovered that the planet's dimensions make the life on Proxima B possible.
In the post of Space Daily, other studies also suggested before that the Proxima B was a dry planet containing only a few amount of water on it. Some other studies propose that there is an equilibrium on the amount of water and rocks on the planet which means that the planet is composed of 50 percent of rock and 50 percent of water.
Researchers, however, they have thought of the possibilities of life on Proxima B for they haven't seen the planet yet. The researches were based on providing estimations on the radius of the planet, the existence of ultraviolet rays and X-rays coming from its nearby star which made them consider the possible scenarios on the planet. Further researches and observations will be done later on to come up with later findings on its habitability.
The Breakthrough Starshot Project
Space scientist is also planning about sending the Breakthrough Starshot Project which will send an unmanned mission to Proxima B. This project will send nano craft to the planet to study the habitability and other elements essential in studying deep space objects.
