Around a faint red dwarf star named Ross 508, located just 36.5 light-years away, scientists have discovered what could be a magnified version of Earth: Super-Earth Ross 508 b.
New research from astronomer Hiroki Harakawa of the Subaru Telescope team (located in Hawaii, USA) at the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ) indicates that Ross 508 b is a promising planet in the search for life.
Graphic depiction of the recently discovered super-Earth – (Image: SMM/IAC)
This planet has a mass four times that of Earth and orbits its dim red star every 10.75 days. Its orbit is significantly narrower compared to Earth’s; however, because Ross 508 is a much cooler red dwarf star than the Sun, this proximity places the planet right at the edge of the “habitable zone.”
“Habitable zone” – Goldilocks – refers to the region around a star where conditions of temperature and radiation are suitable for water to exist in liquid form, providing a potential environment for life to arise. However, this zone is relative.
In our Solar System, Venus, Earth, and Mars are within the habitable zone, but these two neighboring planets seem unlikely to host modern life. In contrast, some moons of Jupiter and Saturn, such as Europa and Enceladus, lie outside the habitable zone yet may harbor life, according to studies from NASA.
Red dwarfs are the most common type of star, making up about 75% of the stars in the Milky Way galaxy, but due to their small size and dimness, they are challenging to observe with telescopes.
Red dwarfs are more easily observed in the infrared spectrum, which is why a team of scientists from Japan’s Astrobiology Center has developed a new infrared observing device called the IRD Doppler infrared to enhance the capabilities of the Subaru telescope.
Ross 508 b is the first result of this technological advancement. This super-Earth has an elliptical orbit, and while it briefly strays outside its star’s habitable zone, it still has the potential to retain liquid water—a prerequisite for life.
According to Science Alert, new research shows that Ross 508 b is a strong candidate for hosting life, especially since measurements indicate that the radiation it receives from its parent star is only about 1.4 times that which Earth receives from the Sun—a level still conducive to life, including typical forms of life on Earth, especially if protected by a suitable atmosphere.
Even within our Solar System, leading space agencies such as NASA and ESA continue to pursue worlds outside the habitable zone, holding a near-certain belief that moons like Europa (of Jupiter), Enceladus and Titan (of Saturn), and even the dwarf planet Pluto may harbor life.
Professor Bun’ei Sato from the Tokyo Institute of Technology, a member of the IRD team, noted that it has been 14 years since they started developing this technology and are making efforts to find more worlds similar to Ross 508 b.
As for Ross 508 b, scientists will continue to pursue it and analyze more detailed data to uncover clues about water—if it exists—and other potential signs of life.
The study has just been published in the Publications of the Astronomical Society of Japan.
