Astronomers have exciting news! NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has found compelling evidence of a planet orbiting Proxima Centauri, our closest solar twin—a mere 4.2 light-years away. This discovery, announced today, marks a significant step in the search for life beyond Earth.
The potential planet, tentatively named Proxima Centauri c, is larger than Earth and orbits within the star's habitable zone. This zone is the region around a star where temperatures could allow liquid water to exist—a key ingredient for life as we know it.
"This is a truly remarkable finding," says a NASA scientist. "It suggests that planets around other stars, even those incredibly similar to our own Sun, may be far more common than we previously thought." Exoplanets (planets orbiting stars other than our Sun) are a hot topic in astronomy.
Further observations are planned to confirm the planet's existence and learn more about its atmosphere. Could this distant world resemble the lush landscapes of Pandora from the Avatar movies? The possibility is thrilling!
