Another Earth?

Astronomers have found an Earth-like planet circling Proxima Centauri, our solar system’s closest neighboring star. The exoplanet—a planet outside our solar system—is named Proxima b. It may be the right temperature and size to support life.  

Scientists observed tiny movements of Proxima Centauri to detect the planet. The gravity of Proxima b tugs on the star as the exoplanet orbits it. That causes the star to wobble slightly.

Proxima b’s distance from its star suggests that life could exist on the planet. That’s because it orbits within Proxima Centauri’s habitable zone, where it receives just enough warmth for liquid water to occur on the planet’s surface. Astronomers hope to observe Proxima b more closely for signs of life soon.