Earth-Sized Planet Discovered Around the Closest Star to Earth, Proxima-Centauri

Back in 2013, the 1st signs of a planet over four light-years from our solar system were spotted. Since then, the scientific community has been effective to gather more information via further comments, primarily with the help of the European Southern Observatory (ESO).
To learn and observe the red dwarf star, which was named Proxima Centauri, the Pale Red Dot campaign was in progress. Scientists used the HARPS spectograph on the ESO’s 3.6 meter telescope at La Silla in Chile. Combined with data gathered from other telescopes approximately the world, astronomers, led by Guillem Anglada-Escudé, experiential a wobbling star that was in fact caused by the gravitational pull of an orbiting planet.

 “The first hints of a probable planet were spotted back in 2013, but the discovery was not convincing. Since then we have worked hard to get further comments off the ground with help from ESO and others. The latest Pale Red Dot campaign has been about 2-years in the planning,” Anglada-Escudé explains.
PROXIMA CENTAURI
Research gathered from the Pale Red Dot campaign revealed a very exhilarating result:
    At times Proxima Centauri is future Earth at about 5 kilometres per hour — normal human walking pace — and at times receding at the same speed. This usual pattern of changing radial velocities repeats with a period of 11.2 days. Careful analysis of the resultant tiny Doppler shifts showed that they indicate the attendance of a planet with a mass at least 1.3 times that of the Earth, orbiting about 7 million kilometres from Proxima Centauri — only 5% of the Earth-Sun space.
While its orbit is closer to its star (compared to Mercury’s reserve to our sun in our solar system), Proxima’s star is a lot fainter than our sun. This makes it more habitable and scientists estimation that it could have a outside temperature that would allow the presence of liquid.
This detection makes Proxima a prime target for the search for alien life, especially since the Alpha Centauri system is previously a target for the human race’s pioneer attempt to travel to another star system.
“Many exoplanets have been establish and many more will be found, but searching for the closest potential Earth-analogue and succeeding has been the knowledge of a lifetime for all of us. Many people’s story and efforts have converged on this discovery. The result is as well a tribute to all of them. The look for for life on Proxima b comes next…” ends Anglada-Escudé.