Stars Invisible to the Eye Could Host Watery Exoplanets

Planets in orbit around dim red stars could serve as one of the universe's leading incubators of life.

By Matt Hrodey
May 30, 2023 2:45 PMJul 18, 2023 8:55 PM
Red dwarf star
A red dwarf star warms three planets. (Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech)

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Dwarf stars invisible to the naked eye could be hiding a wealth of exoplanets that contain liquid water and suitable conditions for life, according to a new study. The faint red stars make up some 58 billion of the 100-plus billion stars in the Milky Way, so the new findings greatly expand the prospects for planet hunting.

Scientists already knew that red dwarfs hosted planets, but the new study estimates what percentage of their planets orbit in a way that preserves liquid water and chances for life.

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