Swiss scientists from the University of Geneva have discovered an exoplanet called HD 20794 d, which is in the habitable zone of its star. This means that liquid water could exist on its surface, and thus conditions for life.

What is known about HD 20794 d?

  • Distance: 19.7 light years from Earth – in cosmic terms, this is very close.
  • Size: About 6 times more massive than Earth, which makes it a super-Earth.
  • Star: Yellow dwarf, dimmer than the Sun, but still similar to it.
  • Orbit: Elongated, which leads to alternating warmer and colder periods.

Another candidate for life

The orbit of HD 20794 d can periodically heat the surface, allowing ice to turn into liquid water. This makes the planet a key object for studying habitability conditions.

Astronomers hope that analyzing this planet will help improve our models for searching for life beyond Earth.

HD 20794 d is the 12th closest potentially habitable exoplanet discovered to date. Studying it could bring us closer to finding extraterrestrial life.