Astronomy is the study of celestial objects, such as stars, planets, and galaxies. It involves observing and analyzing the universe to understand its origins, structure, and evolution.
The Kepler Space Telescope was a NASA mission launched in 2009 to search for exoplanets. It discovered thousands of exoplanets using the transit method, which involves measuring the slight dip in brightness as a planet passes in front of its star.
TRAPPIST-1 is a star system located 39 light-years away from Earth. It became famous for its seven Earth-sized exoplanets, three of which are located in the stars habitable zone.
Proxima Centauri b is an exoplanet located in the habitable zone of the closest star to our solar system, Proxima Centauri. It is roughly Earth-sized and potentially has the right conditions for liquid water, making it a prime target in the search for extraterrestrial life.
The habitable zone, also known as the Goldilocks zone, is the region around a star where conditions could be just right for liquid water to exist on the surface of an exoplanet. This zone is neither too hot nor too cold, making it potentially habitable for life as we know it.
Exoplanet exploration is a rapidly evolving field of scientific research. With advancements in technology and space missions like Kepler and TESS, astronomers are discovering new exoplanets at an unprecedented rate and studying their diverse characteristics.