A team of astronomers has discovered an Earth-like planet orbiting a star 4,000 light-years away from the Solar System, potentially providing insight into Earth’s distant future. This rocky planet, with a mass similar to Earth, revolves around a white dwarf in the constellation Sagittarius. Possibilities of life have been observed on this planet. This discovery brings a ray of hope for Earth’s survival as our Sun enters its final phase.
This suggests that Earth could potentially avoid being consumed by the expanding Sun, opening up the possibility of human migration to the outer Solar System, to moons such as Europa, Callisto and Ganymede around Jupiter or Enceladus near Saturn for future generations. Can become a potential shelter for.
See what this new planet looks like
What is a white dwarf?
A white dwarf is the remnant left after a star has exhausted its nuclear fuel and shed its outer layers. This symbolizes the end of the Sun. As the Sun’s nuclear fuel runs out, the Sun will turn into a red giant, then shrink into a white dwarf. The extent of its expansion will determine which planets in the Solar System will be hit by it – Mercury and Venus are likely to be incinerated. But what will happen to the earth?
Will the earth end?
As the Sun expands into a red giant, its loss of mass will push the planets into more distant orbits. This event may allow Earth to avoid destruction. “Whether life could survive on Earth during that (red giant) period is unknown. But of course, the most important thing is that Earth is illuminated by the Sun,” said Jessica Lu, associate professor of astronomy at UC Berkeley. It doesn’t get swallowed until it becomes a giant red giant.”
“In any case, planet Earth will remain habitable only for the next billion years, at which time Earth’s oceans will evaporate from the greenhouse effect – long before it risks being swallowed by the red giant Sun.”
So can humanity find refuge beyond Earth?
As the Sun turns into a red giant, the habitable zone in the Solar System will shift outward to the orbits of Jupiter and Saturn. Many of their moons, such as Europa and Callisto, may become ocean worlds capable of supporting life. Before that humanity can migrate from there.