THE FIVE MOST INTERESTING EXOPLANETS IN THE SEARCH FOR LIFE

PR OX I MA CENT AU RIB

This is an Earth-mass planet orbiting the cool red dwarf star, Proxima Centauri, once every 11.2 days. Being the closest exoplanet to Earth, it has the most exciting potential for observation.

TRAPPIST -1 E

This is just over half the mass of Earth and orbits its red dwarf parent every 6.1 days. It is one of seven known planets in the Trappist-1 system, three of which are in the Habitable Zone.

KEPLER-62F

This has a mass about three times bigger than Earth’s. It orbits a dwarf star once every 267 days. The star is cooler than the Sun, so for it to be warm enough for oceans, the planet needs a thick atmosphere.

K EPL ER-18 6F

This is about 1.5 times more massive than the Earth. It orbits once every 130 days in the Habitable Zone of its parent star. It is colder than Earth but a thick atmosphere might make it cosy for life.

KEPLER-452B

This planet is about five times as massive as Earth and 60 per cent bigger. Crucially, it orbits a star like the Sun in just over one Earth-year.