CONDITIONS FOR A HABITABLE EARTH-LIKE PLANET

1 Under 1.6 times the size of Earth

Astronomers have proven that planets up to 1.6 times the size of Earth generally follow the same processes that made our home planet.

3 Just the right temperature

A planet must be at a suitable distance from its star in order to sustain liquefied water – too hot and it would boil away, too cold and it would be frozen.

5 Protective blanket

A world wrapped up in an atmospheric blanket keeps it warm, trapping heat in and keeping harmful radiation out.

2 Magnetic shield

To deflect space radiation and storms from its parent star, an Earth-like planet needs a magnetic field. This also ensures the atmosphere doesn’t whittle away.

4 Right amount of nutrients

Nutrients are important to maintain life on a planet. Solid planets and moons are usually made up of the same general chemical make-up.