Ross 508 b can be significant:

In a new study mentioned ScienceAlert, describes the recent discovery of an exoplanet. Any planet orbiting the sun is not ours.

The planet, Ross 508b, is located 36.5 light-years underground. According to the researchers, the mass of the planet should indicate that it is a rocky planet and not a gaseous planet.

Doubts of habitability

The astronomers wrote in the study that the planet’s farthest from the sun could mean there might be water there.

At the same time, the researchers were clear in emphasizing that although Ross 508 b is located in the so-called “habitable zone” of its solar system, it is not likely to be habitable.

However, this discovery may be important for future searches for exoplanets. ScienceAlert writes that astronomers’ way of finding an exoplanet can help determine if it has an atmosphere.

smaller and closer

The method discussed in the study is that telescopes are used to detect light from objects orbiting the sun.

When tiny drops in brightness come off an object as a result of other objects moving between it and the telescope, scientists can calculate the mass.

According to researchers, Ross 508b has a mass four times that of Earth. They further estimate that it takes the planet 10.75 days to travel around the sun.

If we compare an exoplanet with our own, then it is much closer to its sun than we are. On the other hand, it is much smaller and much less powerful than our Sun.

This means that Ross 508 b is located in a habitable area.

According to the astronomers behind the study, the discovery of Ross 508b may help other scientists in their search for other, more habitable exoplanets.

The current study is available at arXiv, which is an archive of electronic printing of scientific publications. The report was taken up for publication in Publications of the Japanese Astronomical SocietyIt is a refereed scientific journal in astronomy.