Planets

Scientists believe that the planet Proxima Centauri b is one of many nearby worlds that could be habitable.

The authors of a study published in the Astrophysical Journal conducted a new study of the Earth-sized planets that are closest to us. Scientists have concluded that 17 of these planets are most likely similar to Jupiter’s moon Europa or Saturn’s moon Enceladus. That is, these are not ordinary rocky worlds, as they are considered, but planets covered with an icy shell with oceans of liquid water under this shell. Life may exist in these oceans and signs of its existence can be detected by analyzing geysers that fly into space from under the surface of the planets, writes IFLScience.

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It is believed that extraterrestrial life could thrive on Earth-sized planets that are in the habitable zone of their star. In this case, there are conditions for liquid water to exist on the surface of the planet. Water is essential for all life as we know it and almost any life we ​​can imagine.

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Although the moons Enceladus and Europa are outside the habitable zone of the Sun, scientists believe there may be life in their underground oceans, which are hidden under an icy shell. On the other hand, many planets that are at a similar distance from their stars may also have internal oceans. And scientists conducted a study of 17 such worlds that are closest to Earth.

Scientists believe that these planets may have a shell of ice, but the internal heat and tidal forces of their host stars allow underground oceans of liquid water to exist. Due to strong internal heating, cryovolcanic eruptions can occur on all these planets in the form of geysers emerging into space from cracks in the ice shell.

Geysers on Enceladus. Due to strong internal heating, cryovolcanic eruptions can occur on all these planets in the form of geysers emerging into space from cracks in the ice shell

Photo: NASA

Of greatest interest to researchers is the planet closest to Earth outside the solar system, called Proxima Centauri b, which is similar in size to Earth. Past studies have shown that this planet is in the habitable zone of its star, but life most likely cannot exist here due to the fact that powerful radiation from the star Proxima Centauri destroyed the planet’s atmosphere. In this case, even if there were oceans there, they would all evaporate.

But the authors of a new study believe that the planet Proxima Centauri b, like the other 16 worlds, is much colder than previously thought. Therefore, even in the absence of an atmosphere, the planet’s icy shell can protect the underground ocean.

The authors of a new study believe that the planet Proxima Centauri b, like the other 16 worlds, is much colder than previously thought. Therefore, even in the absence of an atmosphere, the planet’s icy shell can protect the underground ocean

Photo: NASA

While some of the planets in the sample have very thick ice cover, Proxima Centauri b may have a thickness of about 60 meters. This is much less than the thickness of Europa’s ice shell (about 20 km). In this case, geysers from under the surface will be able to burst out with great force and have a vast size.

Another planet that scientists have studied, which scientists also consider a good place to search for extraterrestrial life, is called LHS 1140b. The thickness of the ice shell there is approximately 2 km, according to scientists.

The study authors say geysers on these planets can erupt at speeds that are hundreds of times faster than similar events on Enceladus. Signs of extraterrestrial life can be found in these geysers, and modern telescopes can do this.

As I already wrote Focus, NASA showed one day of the Curiosity rover on Mars in 10 seconds. Thanks to a new video, you can see what changes occur on the extraterrestrial landscape during the day.