New signs found of giant gas planet in 'Earth's neighbourhood'

Georgina rangard

Science correspondent

The drawing of an artist that can resemble a new planet. Our sun is a small dot of light between the left and two bright stars on the right.

NASA, ESA, CSA, STSCI, R. Hurt (Caltech/IPAC) The concept of this artist suggests that a gas giant revolves around Alfa Santauri. In this concept, Alpha Santouri A is painted on the upper left of the planet, while the system has other sun -like star, Alpha Santori B, upper right. Our sun is shown as a small spoil of light between those two stars. — The drawing of an artist that can resemble a new planet. Our sun is a small dot of light between the left and two bright stars on the right.

Scientists have found strong evidence of a huge gas planet in the nearest star system for their own.

At a distance of four and a half years, lifeless planets will be close neighbors of the Earth in astronomical terms and may be the moon maintaining life.

The hints were found in the star system Alpha Saintori by the powerful James web space telescope.

The potential planet was detected last year, but it disappeared in follow -up comments. Astronomers will now have to see again to prove that it is definitely present.

Scientists are particularly excited about this discovery due to the similarity between the star of the exoplanet and our sun.

Dr. Dr., Associate Professor of Space Instrument at Oxford University. Carly Hvet said, “Four years are a long way, but in the context of the galaxy, it is very close – it is in our neighborhood.”

“It is around a star that is like the sun and about the same temperature and glow. It is really important if we want to think about the living world,” he said.

The planet will be similar to the gas giants, Saturn and Jupiter of our solar system, and will be covered in a thick gas cloud.

This means that it cannot support life, but it may have moon which are living.

Jupiter and some other planets in our solar system have icy moon, which researchers believe that life can support.

Scientists are currently investigating that possibility on missions called Europea Clippers and Juice.

But those planets are far from our life -giving sun. The potential “new” planet is comparatively close to its star.

A depiction of Jupiter’s Moon Europe where scientists feel that there may be signs of life in its ocean

Getty image stock Jupiter's large moon, Europe's stock depiction, covered with a thick crust of snow over a huge ocean of liquid water — A depiction of Jupiter’s Moon Europe where scientists feel that there may be signs of life in its ocean

James Web Space Telescope found indications in direct imaging, which is the closest thing that scientists have to take pictures of distant objects.

“These are the world’s most powerful space telescope, even incredibly challenging observation to create, as these stars are so bright, close, and move quickly in the sky,” Charles Bechman from NASA’s jet propulsion laboratory said And co-first writer of new discoveries.

Those stars create large amounts of bright light that can block the objects nearby.

This is the reason that the planet was once detected in August 2024, but it seems when scientists again searched for it.

“Perhaps the planet was either behind the star or was very close to be able to see it. You need an element of luck,” Dr. Hvet said.

Astronomers will now seek more signs of the planet. They hope to use a new NASA telescope – Grace Roman Space Telescope – which is due to starting operations in 2027.

The future comments by James Web Space Telescope should also be able to explain what the planet is made from using something called spectral imaging.

This will create a more detailed picture that it looks, and how lingable any orbitable moon can be.