Newly Found Earth Like Planet May Hold Key To Humanity Survival

Space scientists are continuously searching whether any other planet like Earth also exists in the universe? Is such life thriving anywhere else like Earth, or has it existed a long time ago? Now a team of scientists has made a big discovery. A planet has been seen 4 thousand light years away from the solar system which is said to be similar to Earth. This planet is rocky and its weight is approximately the same as Earth. It is located in the Sagittarius constellation and revolves around a white dwarf.

Scientists are saying that its Search This may prove to be a ray of hope for the survival of the Earth as one day our Sun will reach its last moments. That is, when the Earth is about to sink into darkness forever, hopes are being pinned on people settling here. Scientists also estimate that the Earth could potentially avoid being consumed by the Sun by growing in size every day. Due to which the possibility of human settlement in the outer solar system may open up. For example, moons such as Europa, Callisto and Ganymede around Jupiter, or Enceladus near Saturn could become potential havens for future generations.

What is a white dwarf?
White dwarf is actually a star which has consumed all its fuel i.e. nuclear fuel and is now moving towards extinction. In this situation its outer layers have been destroyed. Similarly, our Sun will also one day turn into a red giant with its fuel exhausted and then shrink and take the form of a white dwarf. The future of many nearby planets will depend on how much its size increases. Meaning it can swallow its surrounding planets like Mercury, Venus etc. So will the Earth also be affected by it?

A study conducted by the University of California has been published in Nature Astronomy. It says that as the Sun begins to grow much larger, it will begin to push the planets of the solar system away from their current orbit. Due to this, the Earth will also move further away from it, which will increase its chances of survival. Scientists are saying that the Earth may remain habitable for a few more billions of years. What will be its condition when the sun sets forever cannot be predicted for sure.