Astronomers found a new exoplanet. Can humans live there?

Astronomers have found a new rocky exoplanet that revolves around the TRAPPIST-1 star and looks similar to Earth. Exoplanet refers to the planet that exists outside of the solar system.

NASA’s extremely sensitive Spitzer Space Telescope helped astronomers find this new exoplanet. Astronomers also measured the temperature of the recently discovered exoplanet using the powerful James Webb Space Telescope.

The recently discovered planet is called TRAPPIST-1b and emits an infrared glow rather than visible light. The co-author of this study, Dr. Pierre-Olivier Lagage said there was one target that he dreamt of and this one was it.

According to Dr. Pierre-Olivier, they can identify the emission coming from a temperate, rocky planet for the first time. Hence, it is a significant turning point in the history of exoplanet discovery.

Astronomers found the temperature of a new exoplanet TRAPPIST-1b to be approximately 230°C. NASA said this is the first exoplanet to have a light small and as cool as the ones in solar systems.

Dr. Thomas Greene is the lead author of this research study. He said these observations take advantage of the mid-infrared capability of the James Webb Space Telescope. They have never earlier measured such faint mid-infrared light due to its lack of sensitivity.

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The recent finding is significant for further research into the habitability of such planets around tiny stars. It is the innermost planet. It receives four times as much energy from the Sun as Earth does.

Regarding the possibility of human survival on TRAPPIST-1b seems challenging up to its temperature (230°C.). However, the fact that it emits infrared light and possesses a relatively small and cool start offers intriguing possibilities. But its lack of atmosphere raises questions about human survival.

Hence, further research is crucial in understanding whether conditions exist for human survival on TRAPPIST-Ib. This research study has been published in the journal Nature.