Researchers from the University of Warwick, collaborating with NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA), have contributed to the discovery of a potentially habitable Earth-sized planet named Gliese 12 b.

This distant world, located approximately 40 light years away, boasts a surface temperature akin to the UK’s 2022 heatwave, rendering it one of the few rocky planets where human survival is theoretically possible.

However, its considerable distance prevents closer observation. Gliese 12 b orbits its star, Gliese 12, every 12.8 days and receives 1.6 times more energy than Earth does from the sun.

Utilizing data from NASA and ESA satellites, the team confirmed the planet’s existence, size, temperature, and distance from Earth, the BBC reported.

Dr. Thomas Wilson, a Warwick astrophysicist, expressed excitement over this discovery, emphasizing its significance in understanding Earth-like planets throughout the galaxy.

Larissa Palethorpe, a doctoral student at the University of Edinburgh and University College London, highlighted the planet’s potential for atmospheric study, offering insights into planetary habitability pathways.

Written by B.C. Begley