Archive · 17 Nov 2025
Super-Earth in Habitable Zone Found 18 Light-Years Away
Scientists found a planet similar to Earth in size, but much heavier, orbiting a star 18 light-years away.
This star is close enough that we might be able to see the planet directly with a big telescope.
The planet is in the 'habitable zone,' where it might be warm enough for water to exist, so it could potentially have life.
But we need more information to know for sure.
Astronomers from UC Irvine discovered a rocky, Earth-sized planet in the habitable zone of its star.
The planet, GJ 251 c, is located 18 light-years away, making it one of the closest exoplanets found in the habitable zone.
GJ 251 c orbits an M-dwarf star, which can be challenging to study due to its intense activity.
The planet's proximity makes it a promising candidate for future direct imaging using the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT).
The Habitable-zone Planet Finder (HPF) and NEID instruments were used to detect the planet's gravitational influence on its star.
- Who
- Astronomers from UC Irvine
- What
- Discovered a potentially habitable exoplanet
- When
- Recently
- Where
- 18 light-years away in the Milky Way Galaxy
- Why
- To search for life beyond Earth
- Planet Name
- GJ 251 c
- Star Type
- M-dwarf
- Distance from Earth
- 18 light-years
- Size
- Similar to Earth but much heavier
- Instruments Used
- HPF and NEID
- Potential for Direct Imaging
- Yes, with TMT