The search for inhabited worlds beyond our solar system is one of the most ambitious tasks in modern astronomy. With the help of space telescopes such as Kepler and TESS, scientists have discovered thousands of exoplanets. Among this multitude, several candidates stand out, located in the so-called "habitable zone" — an area around a star where conditions allow water to exist on the planet's surface in liquid form, which is considered a key condition for life as we know it. Criteria for habitability and super-Earths In addition to being in the habitable zone, astronomers also consider other factors. An important role is played by the type of planet: the most interesting are rocky planets similar to Earth, not gas giants. Also, the stability of the host star and the presence of an atmosphere are evaluated. A special class of objects that attract increased interest are "super-Earths," planets whose mass exceeds Earth's but is significantly less than that of gas giants. They may have a stronger gravity, holding a dense atmosphere, and an active geology that promotes the circulation of matter. TRAPPIST-1 system: seven worlds around a red dwarf One of the most promising systems is TRAPPIST-1, located about 40 light-years from us. Around the cold red dwarf star, seven rocky planets similar in size to Earth orbit. Three of them — TRAPPIST-1e, f, and g — are located in the center of the habitable zone. This is a unique laboratory for comparative planetary science, allowing the study of worlds with potentially different conditions within one system. However, life around the red dwarf faces challenges: such stars often flare up, subjecting planets to powerful bursts of ultraviolet radiation. Moreover, due to tidal capture, these planets are likely constantly facing the star with one side, creating an extreme temperature contrast between the day and night hemispheres. Proxima Centauri b: the nearest neighbor The closest known exoplanet to us, Proxima Centauri b, is located jus ... Read more