Scientists have always been curious about the universe. For decades, they asked questions such as: Can we live on Mars? Are the other planets habitable? The more they researched, the clearer it became that our planet was most suitable for human life. But this soon changed when astronomers laid their eyes on the first M dwarf planet. We look at what makes this planet so unique and what this discovery holds for our future.

Life on the M Dwarf Planets

What is an M Dwarf Planet

The discovery of the first exoplanet (planets outside our solar system) in 1992 changed the perspective that we only had planets in our solar system. Some are rogue such that they do not orbit any stars, while most orbit stars. Those that orbit M dwarf stars (or red dwarf stars) are known as M dwarf planets.

The First Discovery

After the first exoplanet discovery, astronomers went into full gear, trying to find others. And in 1998, they found their first M dwarf planet – the Gliese 876 b. Upon further assessment, scientists discovered that the planet was a gas giant which orbited its star in just 61 days. Its proximity to its star accounted for its structure and orbit period.

This discovery changed the astronomy world as it proved that M dwarf stars could have planets orbiting them. Since these are the most common stars in our galaxy, this discovery prompted astronomers to pay more attention to these stars, resulting in more planet discoveries.

What Makes These Planets Unique

The star around which a planet orbits affects it in many ways, including temperature, radiation levels, and overall habitability. So, where do M dwarf planets lie?

  1. They are often close to their stars. M dwarf stars are known for being cooler, smaller, and less luminous than our Sun. As such, the habitable planets around such stars are often closer to the star – this results in a short orbiting period. Most can complete their orbits in just a few days.
  2. They are easy to study. Since these planets orbit stars with low luminosity and small sizes, they are much easier to detect using various methods, including radial velocity and the transit method. This ease makes advances in this field much faster.
  3. They are often tidally locked. The Earth changes its position to the Sun over time, which affects the temperature across various regions and makes the planet habitable. But with most M dwarf stars, this does not happen – one side often faces the Sun at all times while the other always faces away. As such, one side experiences extremely high temperatures while the other experiences the converse and remains in darkness.
  4. They often experience intense stellar flares. Their nearness to their stars exposes them to intense stellar activities that can damage their atmospheres and affect their life forms. High radiation is also a key concern.
  5. They might be habitable. The positioning of these planets near their stars allows them to receive the warmth required to be habitable. Moreover, this positioning makes the availability of liquid water a possibility. While astronomers are yet to prove that any of these planets can sustain extraterrestrial life, speculative reports indicate that this could be the case.

Their abundance also provides an opportunity for astronomers to gain more insights into these planets.

Are These Planets Habitable

Habitability has always been a key focus when studying other planets. First, researchers are curious about the possibility of extraterrestrial life on other planets. Secondly, scientists wish to determine if these planets can provide a home for human beings and other life forms. So, where do these planets fall?

life on other planets
  • These planets have long lifespans. Studies have proven that these planets can last for hundreds of billions of years. As such, they can sustain life forms for generations.
  • They are in habitable zones. Their nearness to their stars allows them to experience conditions that can support the availability of liquid water. But this is yet to be confirmed.

Moreover, M dwarf stars make up more than two-thirds of the stars in our galaxy. If their orbiting planets prove to be habitable, this could be a remarkable milestone in astronomy. Even so, there are challenges that researchers must address, as follows:

I. The planets experience extreme temperatures due to tidal locking. These can result in uninhabitable conditions – preliminary reports indicate that the mid-sections could have moderate temperatures, but confirmation is still underway.

II. They are at risk of high radiation. Stellar flares from M dwarf stars are often so intense that they can break down the atmosphere, thus threatening life forms on the planet. A planet would require a strong magnetic field and a stable atmosphere to withstand such flares in the long term.

If scientists can prove the habitability of these planets despite these challenges, the possibilities for the future will be astronomical!

Most Notable M Dwarf Planets

While researchers have looked into many planets in this category, the following have proven to be the most promising:

Proxima b

Its proximity to our planet, as well as its similarity in size to Earth, make it a good candidate for habitability. So far, studies have shown that it could meet some of the conditions required to sustain extraterrestrial life.

TRAPPIST-1 System

This system comprises seven planets whose sizes are similar to our planet’s. Three of them lie in the habitable zone, making them ideal for studies on the possibility of life around M dwarf stars.

LHS 1140 b

Preliminary reports indicate that this planet could have a rocky surface. As such, studies into it can shed more light on the formation of planets. What’s more, it is in the habitable zone, and this could allow scientists to gain more insights into its ability to sustain life forms.

Could there be life outside our solar system? Only time will tell. But with these and more discoveries, we are getting closer to the answer.

Conclusion

As scientists seek more answers about the universe, these planets could prove invaluable in providing much-needed data to advance studies in astronomy. Already, scientists have made strides with some notable discoveries, and speculations are rife that this trend will only continue as we make more technological advances.