Sky News reports that researchers believe they have found an Earth-sized planet with a magnetic field known as YZ Ceti b.
As reported by the Daily Mail, YZ Ceti b is said to be a rocky planet orbiting a star about 12 light years from Earth.
Astronomer from Bucknell University in the United States (US), Jackie Villadsen believes it is very difficult to determine whether a distant planet has a magnetic field or vice versa because it cannot be seen.
However, scientist from the National Science Foundation, Joe Pesce, said the feature could still be detected if looking for potentially habitable planets.
“This research not only shows that rocky exoplanets tend to have magnetic fields, but also provides a promising method for finding many more,” he said.
Magnetic fields are important for protecting the atmosphere that sustains life on Earth.
It works by deflecting most of the high-energy particles and plasma that are regularly ejected from the sun.
Meanwhile, the research team also detected radio waves purportedly generated by the interaction between the planet’s magnetic field and the star that orbits it.
The research report was published in the journal Nature Astronomy last Monday.
Reportedly, YZ Ceti b is uninhabitable because it is too close to its star, but the planet is said to have another similarity to Earth, namely Aurora or known as the Northern Lights.
(wbs)
