- GJ 3378b was first identified in 2024 orbiting a red dwarf, a small, cool star roughly one-third the size of the sun.
- New analysis shows GJ 3378b's mass is about 2.3 times that of Earth, a significant departure from earlier estimates of five times.
- GJ 3378b is located in the habitable zone, making it a candidate to host life.
- The planet, dubbed GJ 3378b, is roughly twice the size of Earth and has been nicknamed as “Super-Earth” due to signs of a rocky surface and a relatively similar atmosphere.
- The planet's atmosphere may be the right thickness for life to survive on its surface.
- GJ 3378b receives about 90 percent of the radiation from its host star as Earth gets from its sun, placing it in the 'sweet spot' for potential habitability.
- The discovery of GJ 3378b adds another candidate to the list of exoplanets that may be hospitable to life.
GJ 3378b, a newly discovered exoplanet, is about 2.3 times the mass of Earth and orbits a red dwarf star in the habitable zone, where conditions may allow for liquid water. This discovery, made by astronomers at UC Irvine, brings us closer to understanding potential life beyond our planet.14567
The planet, first identified in 2024, is located 25 light-years from Earth in the northern constellation Camelopardalis. It receives about 90 percent of the solar radiation that Earth does, placing it in the 'sweet spot' for habitability. The habitable zone is defined as the region around a star where temperatures are just right for liquid water to exist on a planet's surface.
Paul Robertson, the lead author of the study published in The Astrophysical Journal, stated, “Our mantra is 'follow the water'”, emphasizing the importance of water in the search for life. The discovery of GJ 3378b adds to the growing list of exoplanets that may be hospitable to life, with NASA's planned Habitable Worlds Observatory set to launch in the 2040s to further investigate such planets.10
The team also refined the planet's orbit from 25 days to 21 days and noted that earlier estimates of its mass were significantly off, initially thought to be five times that of Earth. Michael Endl, a co-author of the study, remarked, “The ultimate goal is biosignatures. We really want to know, 'Are we alone in the universe?'”
“GJ 3378b, a newly discovered exoplanet, is about 2.3 times the mass of Earth and lies in its star's habitable zone. This discovery adds to the growing list of candidates that may be hospitable to life.”
Forbes
