Another factor that supports Ross 128b is habitable is its distance to the main star. Just like other exoplanets, the planet's orbit is quite close to its main star, about 20 times closer than Earth and the Sun.
But the planet's main star is a red dwarf so its temperature is lower than the Sun. For information, the Sun is a yellow dwarf star and has a temperature twice as high as the red dwarf.
The planet is also thought to be unexposed to ultraviolet radiation and x-rays that can destroy life. Ross 128b is also thought to have an atmosphere that is capable of supporting life, because its rotation is quite slow and its magnetic activity is weak.
Ross 128b was discovered by astronomers through the High Accuracy Radial velocity Planet Searcher (HARPS) instrument in Chile. Based on the data obtained, this exoplanet measures 35 percent of Earth and orbits its main star for 9.9 days.
Scientists have not been able to determine whether Ross 128b is a habitable zone. To that end, the European Southern Observatory (ESO) plans to study the planet, including the possibility of oxygen.
