A massive "super-Gea," called GJ 3378b, located in one of the closest star systems to our planet may be much more favorable for the development of extraterrestrial life than scientists initially thought, according to a new study. Its relatively close distance from Earth, combined with the characteristics of its parent star, make it an ideal target for further astronomical observations.
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The exoplanet, discovered in 2024, orbits a red dwarf star about 25 light-years from Earth. It completes one orbit every 21.5 days, about ten times closer than the distance between Earth and the Sun. In a system like ours, such an orbit would make the planet inhospitable. However, because the red dwarf emits about 90% less radiation than the Sun, GJ 3378b is located in the center of the so-called “habitable zone,” where conditions could allow liquid water to exist on its surface.
Initially, scientists estimated that GJ 3378b has a mass about five times that of Earth. If it is a rocky planet, like our own, it is classified as a so-called "super-Earth", which is considered one of the most promising candidate worlds in the search for extraterrestrial life. However, it was not clear whether it has a solid surface or whether it is a small gas giant. But even if it is rocky, its large size could imply extremely high atmospheric pressure, creating conditions that could make it difficult for life to develop.
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However, in a new study published June 30 in The Astrophysical Journal, researchers recalculated the exoplanet's mass using the Habitable-zone Planet Finder, which is installed on the Hobby-Eberly Telescope at McDonald Observatory in Texas. The instrument detects the subtle wobbles of the host star, caused by the gravitational pull of the planets orbiting it, allowing for a more precise calculation of their mass and orbit.
The new data showed that GJ 3378b has a mass of only 2.3 times that of Earth, not five times that of Earth, as was initially estimated. This revised measurement significantly strengthens the possibility that it is a rocky planet, while also increasing the chances that it has an atmosphere with a pressure similar to Earth. As a result, the conditions for the existence and development of extraterrestrial life may be more favorable than scientists previously thought.
While scientists have identified other exoplanets that could potentially support life, GJ 3378b stands out because it is relatively close to Earth. Its proximity makes it a particularly attractive target for observations, as it makes it easier to determine whether it actually has conditions suitable for supporting life.
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For this reason, the researchers point out that additional observations are needed. If in the future the existence of an atmosphere around the planet is confirmed, GJ 3378b is likely to emerge as one of the most important targets for further study, occupying one of the first places on the list of exoplanets of greatest scientific interest.
