Chance of finding young Earth-like planets higher than previously thought: Study

[Judi Lynn]

By: PTI | Published: June 6, 2020 4:08:53 PM

Researchers in the UK have found that the chance of finding Earth-like planets in their early stages of formation is much higher than previously thought. The team of researchers from the University of Sheffield studied groups of young stars in the Milky Way to see if they were typical compared to theories and previous observations in other star-forming regions in space, and to study if the populations of stars in these groups affected the likelihood of finding forming Earth-like planets.

The research, published in The Astrophysical Journal, found that there are more stars like the Sun than expected in these groups, which would increase the chances of finding Earth-like planets in their early stages of formation.

In their early stages of formation, these Earth-like planets, called magma ocean planets, are still being made from collisions with rocks and smaller planets, which causes them to heat up so much that their surfaces become molten rock.

“These magma ocean planets are easier to detect near stars like the Sun, which are twice as heavy as the average mass star. These planets emit so much heat that we will be able to observe the glow from them using the next generation of infra-red telescopes, said lead researcher Dr Richard Parker.

More:
https://www.financialexpress.com/lifestyle/science/chance-of-finding-young-earth-like-planets-higher-than-previously-thought-study/1983296/