Earth Size Planet In Habitable Zone Of Nearest Star.

Earth Size Planet In Habitable Zone Of Nearest Star. 

-Crazy Facts Of Cosmology. 

Proxima b orbits closer to its star than Mercury, our solar system's innermost planet does to the sun. But Proxima Centuari  is smaller and cooler than the sun, the planet could still host life.

The exo planet, which is the closest to Earth but still four and a half light years away, orbits the star Proxima Centuari.

In February, NASA said the planet is unlikely to be habitable, whether or not it has water on its surface, because of the harsh radiation from Centuari.

 The planet was also said  to lose too much oxygen to be able to host liquid water on its surface.

For one of the potential composition models, the researchers found Proxima b maybe an ocean planet similar to some of the icy moons around Jupiter and Saturn that harbor surface oceans.

Considering the host star's age and the planet's Proximity to its host star,  the scientists expect that proxima b is subjected to torrents of X-ray and extreme ultraviolet radiation from super flares occurring roughly every 2 hrs.

Then, months later, this planet's  habitability was questioned. Proxima b was said to be too close to its star meaning it would be subject to the host's harsh radiation.

Researchers have modelled the potential atmospheric conditions on Proxima b,  and found it could support life after all.