๐ŸŒ Life-Candidate Worlds

Worlds beyond Earth that may host oceans, atmosphere, chemistry โ€” or life itself.

Scientists estimate there could be billions of potentially habitable worlds in the universe. Some orbit nearby stars, others float alone in darkness, and a few may be more Earth-like than Earth itself.

These arenโ€™t confirmed living worlds โ€” but they are our best candidates.

What Makes a Planet โ€œHabitableโ€?

  • ๐ŸŒก Temperature suitable for liquid water
  • ๐Ÿ’จ Presence of atmosphere
  • ๐Ÿงช Organic chemistry (carbon-based molecules)
  • ๐ŸŒ Stable orbit in the โ€œHabitable Zoneโ€
  • ๐Ÿงฒ Magnetic field or protective shielding

Top Known Life-Candidate Worlds

๐ŸŸข Proxima Centauri b

The closest potentially habitable exoplanet โ€” only 4.24 light-years away.

Pros: Right temperature range, similar mass to Earth.
Challenge: Host star emits strong radiation.

๐ŸŸฃ TRAPPIST-1 System (e, f, g)

A system of seven Earth-sized planets โ€” three in the habitable zone.

One of the best known โ€œmini-solar systemsโ€ for life research.

๐ŸŸก Kepler-452b

Nicknamed โ€œEarth 2.0โ€ โ€” slightly larger than Earth and orbits a Sun-like star.

Its climate stability makes it a prime candidate for long-term habitability.

โ„๏ธ Europa & Enceladus (Moons)

Not planets โ€” but possibly the most promising places for microbial life.

Hidden oceans under ice, hydrothermal vents โ€” similar to Earthโ€™s deep-sea origins.

Watch & Learn

NASA Exoplanet Research ๐Ÿ”ญ
Quick Facts

๐ŸŒŒ Estimated exoplanets: 100+ billion

๐Ÿงฌ Confirmed habitable-zone worlds: 60+

๐Ÿ‘ฝ Confirmed life: None (yet).

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