New “Super-Earth” Found in the Habitable Zone

Astronomers have discovered GJ 251 c, a “super-Earth” nearly four times our planet’s mass, orbiting in its star’s habitable zone — the sweet spot for liquid water and possibly life. Using 20 years of data and tools like the Habitable-Zone Planet Finder, researchers from Penn State tracked the star’s subtle wobble to confirm the planet’s presence.While we can’t yet study its atmosphere, future telescopes may reveal whether GJ 251 c holds signs of alien life.Thank you for listening to Bedtime Astronomy — your guide to the cosmos. New episodes on space exploration, NASA missions & the latest astronomy breakthroughs.