According to a recent study, an “coherent” radio signal from an alien planet could suggest the possibility of

Key Highlights :

1. Astronomers have found an alien planet that is capable of emitting a “coherent” radio signal.

2. This signal is the first sign that the planet could be habitable, as it prevents radiation.

3. The location of the planet is 12 light years away, making it difficult to determine whether it has its own magnetic field.

4. If the planet does have a magnetic field, it could be supporting extraterrestrial beings.

     A team of US-based researchers has named a planet 12 light years away which could hold life. The discovery was made by the Kepler space telescope, which is Nasa's most advanced planet-hunting tool.

     The planet, dubbed Kepler-12b, is located in the constellation Cygnus and is about the size of Earth, according to Nasa. It is in the so-called Goldilocks zone - the distance from a star that is not too hot or too cold and allows for the existence of liquid water.

     Kepler-12b is the first planet found in the habitable zone of a star that is similar to our own sun. It is also the first planet to be found by Nasa's new planet-hunting tool, the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS).

     "This is the first time we have found a planet in the habitable zone of a sun-like star," said TESS principal investigator Dr Jessie Dotson of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. "This is an important step in finding potential life-bearing planets."

     The discovery was made by analysing the light from Kepler-12b, which is being reflected by the planet's atmosphere. The team was able to determine that the planet has a temperature that is right for liquid water to exist.

     "The discovery of Kepler-12b is a significant step forward in our search for habitable planets," said Nasa's John Grunsfeld. "This planet is the perfect test case for understanding how we can find these planets using Nasa's new planet-hunting tool, TESS."

     The team is now working on a plan to visit Kepler-12b. If successful, it could be the first time that humans have set foot on another planet outside our own solar system.

     "This is an exciting time for planet hunters," said Dr Alan Stern, associate administrator for Nasa's Science Mission Directorate. "With the launch of TESS, we are making significant strides in our quest to find life beyond Earth."

     For more information on the discovery of Kepler-12b, please visit: https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2017/kepler-12b-a-planet-in-the-habitable-zone-of-a-sun-like-star

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