The European Southern Observatory has announced that a newly discovered Earth-size planet, which could sustain life, will soon be our closest neighbour.
It is an exoplanet named Ross 128 b (as memorable a name as any of the newly named planets or asteroids get these days) and it is 11 light-years from our solar system. It is moving towards and within 79,000 years it will become our closest neighbour. Proxima b is currently the closest temperate planet to Earth.
It is orbiting a red dwarf star on an orbit pattern lasting 9.9 days. The red dwarf has a surface temperature half that of the sun's, so it could make the planet capable of sustaining life.
Every 9.9 days, Ross 128 b orbits a red dwarf star known as Ross 128. Ross 128 is relatively quiet and cool and has just over half the surface temperature of the sun, scientists said, which could make Ross 128 b conducive to life.
But, unless cryostasis or teleportation take a massive leap forwards, none of us will be around to see Ross.