Ross 128b is quite identical to Earth in terms of its size and the temperature over the surface. The planet is said to be around eleven light years from the earth, which would take around 141,000 years for us to reach. From the analysis of the chemical composition carried out, scientists have concluded that the said planet may have water over its surface in the liquid form. For now, Ross 128b has been known as the closest planet from the Earth that has the chances of holding alien life.
Studying the properties of the star in terms of its composition, i.e. which of the elements prevail into the star, can help the scientists judge the composition of those exoplanets surrounding them. Correlating those properties with that of the earth’s properties help the researchers to determine the chances of the planet to have water and life-sustaining characteristics. The planet was observed from ‘Apache Point Observatory’ with the help of ‘Sloan Digital Sky Survey’ Spectroscopic instrument.
The infrared light near the star was measured by the scientists so as to calculate the content of iron, titanium, calcium, potassium, aluminum, magnesium, oxygen, and carbon into the star. Those rocky planets can be formed from the disc of gases and dust that rotates around those stars when they are young. The composition of those stars affect the composition of those gaseous discs, and thus the composition of those Exoplanets formed from those gases in terms of internal structure and mineral content.
The researchers have determined that levels of iron into the Ross 128b are identical to that of our sun. Earlier, it was very difficult for the researchers to determine the chemical composition of the stars at such level of depth. The star around which Ross 128b revolves is a ‘red dwarf star’.