Exoplanet GJ 3378b discovered near solar system

Astronomers have discovered a potentially habitable exoplanet named GJ 3378b, located approximately 25 light-years from our solar system. The rocky planet is roughly twice the size of Earth and orbits within the habitable zone of its parent star, a cool red dwarf.

Being in the habitable zone suggests that temperatures could allow for the existence of liquid water. However, researchers noted uncertainty regarding whether the planet possesses an atmosphere, as intense radiation from the nearby red dwarf could potentially strip it away. This risk places the planet near what scientists call the ‘cosmic shoreline’.

The study, led by Paul Robertson, an assistant professor of astronomy at UC Irvine, was published in The Astrophysical Journal.