One of the most intriguing exoplanet discoveries to date, Proxima b, was made six years ago. It’s a solid planet about the size of Proxima Centauri, the sun’s nearest neighbor, which orbits the Earth.
The planet is situated in the « Goldilocks zone » of its solar system, which refers to the point where it is neither too distant from nor too close to its host star, which provides the perfect environment for life. It orbits Proxima Centauri, the star closest to Earth, and is an astounding 40 trillion kilometers, or 4.25 lightyears, away.
However, NASA stated earlier this year that the planet is routinely subjected to intense radiation, rendering it incapable of supporting water and obliterating any prospects of finding extraterrestrial life there.
Could this planet actually have extraterrestrial life? What effect does this have on our quest to find a new planet to call home? Let’s find out!
