Is there World 2.0? Learn about exoplanets similar to ours

The search for new worlds in the field of astronomical sciences is continuous. Worlds with water, oxygen and life are humanity’s great crusade We are looking for planets similar to Earth. But do they exist?

There are more than 5,000 confirmed exoplanets in just a small part of our galaxy, but very few of them are similar to our planet. Learn more about planets outside our Solar System and meet some of their new home candidates.

World 2.0, why couldn’t we find it?

An exoplanet is any planet located outside our Solar System. He might be bound to a star, or he might be a rebel wandering alone in space.

Generally, The composition of these stars is similar to those found on the planets in our system. Therefore, they can be gas giants like Jupiter and Saturn, or rocky giants like Mars and our beloved planet. So if the elements and composition can be the same, are there other Earths out there?

Terrestrial and space telescopes are always looking for new worlds. However, despite a significant number of other worlds identified, very few of them are comparable to our little blue planet in size, composition, or position relative to its star.

There is also a limiting factor in observing and studying these planets. Since direct observation is not possible. For this reason, projects such as TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite) and the Kepler telescope are of great importance to obtain data and observations.

Everything we know is based on models, spectral calculations, and other forms of astronomical measurements, and although these provide us with excellent data, they cannot fully explain the conditions under which these planets exist.

There is even a debate about the relationship between the loss of atmosphere of sub-Neptune-sized planets and their shrinkage to super-Earth sizes. According to theories, This phenomenon may occur due to movements of the planet’s core or the evaporation of the atmosphere over thousands of years..

This particular study aims to investigate why no exoplanets of intermediate size between these two classifications have yet been found. But the problem isn’t just size and lack of atmosphere; The location of your system relative to its star should also be taken into account.

Candidates of the New World

TOI 700 days

Thanks to TESS data in 2020, TOI 700 d was an Earth-like sized exoplanet orbiting a red dwarf star.. The planet, which has a seemingly rocky structure, is located in an area thought to be habitable. It is estimated that this planet is equivalent to an average of 86% of the heat we receive from the Sun.

Gliese 667Cc

It was discovered in 2011 Gliese 667Cc orbits a red dwarf and has a mass almost 5 times greater than our planet. Researchers believe the planet could be hit by explosions from its star, even though it is in a zone around its star that is thought to be habitable.

Kepler 62f

If you want a year with fewer days, perhaps Kepler 62f is the solution. Its orbit lasts about 267 days and is about 40% larger than Earth.. Like the others, it lies within the habitable zone of its red dwarf, and there are indications that the planet may have an ocean.

Proxima Centauri b

Want a closer target? Just 4 light years ago, we have the exoplanet Proxima Centauri b, which is slightly larger than Earth (1.3 times).. Even though it has the capacity to hold water and is in the habitable zone of its star, its orbit is so close to the star that the radiation levels received become extremely high!

Last cookie in the package

There are other exoplanets that share similar characteristics to our planet in terms of size, rock formation, and optimal location relative to their star. But, The composition of our atmosphere is something not yet found on other planets.

The search for a world comparable to ours is ongoing, and since we only know a small part of our galaxy, perhaps one day we may find another place as rich as this little blue planet.

But until then, technology and our data analysis methods need to advance so that we can recognize something when we find it, after all, we only know life here from our own perspective. Who knows, maybe there is carbon-based life beyond this?

Did you like the content and want to learn more about exoplanets? So stay tuned for astronomy news at TecMundo and take the opportunity to discover where the planets are in the habitable zones of white dwarfs.