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UCF Scientist Investigates New Planet Discovery

An artist’s impression of the planet Proxima b. Photo: ESO
An artist’s impression of the planet Proxima b. Photo: ESO

A new planet that might have liquid water was discovered orbiting one of Earth’s closest stars. Scientists at UCF plan to verify those results.

Proxima B is a planet slightly larger than Earth, found orbiting the star Proxima Centari about 4 light years away. It orbits at a distance from the star where the temperature is just right for liquid water, and possibly life.

Observers discovered the planet by watching the star wobble. Each time the planet moved around the star, it pulled it ever so slightly.

Now, astronomers want to verify those results. Professor Joseph Harrington is a planetary scientist in the Department of Physics at the University of Central Florida. He’s hoping to spot the planet using telescopes both on the ground and out in space.

Harrington says the discovery of the planet is a big step in the search for life in the Universe

“There are two things we need to do in astrobiology," said Harrington. "One is figure out what to look for and how to look for it. The other is figuring out a place to look, and we just checked that box."

New satellites launching soon, like NASA’s exoplanet hunter TESS and the James Webb Space Telescope, can help verify this planet and possibly find thousands more exoplanets.

Brendan Byrne is WMFE's Assistant News Director, managing the day-to-day operations of the WMFE newsroom, editing daily news stories, and managing WMFE's internship program.

Byrne also hosts WMFE's weekly radio show and podcast "Are We There Yet?" which explores human space exploration.