Produced by: Manoj Kumar
A new Earth-like planet, HD 20794 d, has been discovered orbiting in the habitable zone of a sun-like star, just 20 light-years away. The breakthrough opens doors to the study of potentially life-supporting exoplanets.
Credit : NASA
This super-Earth’s orbit lies in the habitable zone, the perfect distance from its star to sustain liquid water—a key condition for life. Its discovery brings us closer to identifying Earth-like worlds.
Credit : NASA
Unlike most planets, HD 20794 d has an elliptical orbit, shifting between the inner and outer edges of the habitable zone, making it an exciting yet complex candidate for life.
Credit : NASA
Dr. Michael Cretignier, of Oxford University, led the research using 20 years of light spectrum data from HARPS and ESPRESSO spectrographs in Chile, confirming the planet's existence.
Credit : NASA
“For me, it was naturally a huge joy when we could confirm the planet's existence,” said Dr. Cretignier, who worked years to eliminate noise and prove the signal was real.
Credit : NASA
Instruments like the Extremely Large Telescope and LIFE mission could study HD 20794 d’s atmosphere, searching for biosignatures that may indicate life.
The discovery used cutting-edge spectrographs to detect the gravitational pull of HD 20794 d. These tools are among the most precise in the world for measuring light spectrum variations.
At only 20 light-years away, HD 20794 d is one of the closest Earth-like planets discovered, making it a prime target for future missions seeking life beyond our solar system.
“With its location in the habitable zone, this planet could play a pivotal role in characterizing exoplanet atmospheres,” said Dr. Cretignier, emphasizing its importance for future exploration.
Credit : NASA