In the study published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, planets in the “habitable zone” were detected by analyzing the European Space Agency’s Gaia mission and NASA’s Exoplanet Archive data. This region refers to the ideal distance around a star where it is neither too hot nor too cold, and therefore liquid water can exist on the surface.
According to the research, among more than 6 thousand exoplanets discovered to date, approximately 50 stand out as candidates with the highest potential for life. These planets receive a similar amount of energy from their stars as Earth receives from the Sun. This makes them suitable for life, at least in theory.
Lisa Kaltenegger from Cornell University, who was part of the team conducting the study, pointed out that life could exist in much different conditions than we think, and emphasized that identifying such planets is of critical importance. According to Kaltenegger, this list serves as a road map showing which systems should be focused on in the search for life in the future.
Among the planets featured in the research are Proxima Centauri b, located in one of the star systems closest to Earth, planets in the popular Trappist-1 system, and previously notable candidates such as Kepler 186f. Some planets, especially in the Trappist-1 system, are among the most important targets of the scientific world due to their relative closeness to the Earth and their favorable conditions.
Scientists also examine planets located at the borders of the habitable zone, trying to understand under what conditions a planet loses its habitability. In this context, it is being investigated whether some planets can support life under certain conditions, despite being very close or very far from their stars.
The study not only detects new planets; It also provides an important guide for future observations. It is expected that new generation telescopes, especially the James Webb Space Telescope, which will come into operation in the coming years, will examine these planets in more detail.
