Ross 128 b

Mass, radius, and temperature Due to it being discovered by the radial velocity method, The discovery team modelled the planet's potential equilibrium temperature using albedos of 0.100, 0.367, and 0.750. Albedo is the portion of the light that is reflected instead of absorbed by a celestial object. With these three albedo parameters, Ross 128 b would have a Teq of either , , or . For an Earth-like albedo of 0.3, the planet would have an equilibrium temperature of , about 8 Kelvins lower than Earth's average temperature. A 2024 study of the radial velocity data found an eccentricity of about 0.21 for Ross 128 b, higher than previous estimates and similar to that of Mercury. Given the planet's orbit near the inner edge of the habitable zone, such a high eccentricity would significantly decrease its potential for habitability. ==Habitability==

Stellar flux properties Ross 128 b is not confirmed to be orbiting exactly within the habitable zone. It appears to reside within the inner edge, as it receives approximately 38% more sunlight than Earth. The habitable zone is defined as the region around a star where temperatures are just right for a planet with a thick enough atmosphere to support liquid water, a key ingredient in the development of life as we know it. With its moderately high stellar flux, Ross 128 b is likely more prone to water loss, mainly on the side directly facing the star. However, an Earth-like atmosphere, assuming one exists, would be able to distribute the energy received from the star around the planet and allow more areas to potentially hold liquid water. In addition, study author Xavier Bonfils noted the possibility of significant cloud cover on the star-facing side, which would block out much incoming stellar energy and help keep the planet cool. Solar flare potential The planet is considered one of the most Earth-like worlds ever found in relation to its temperature, size and rather quiet host star. Ross 128 b is very close in mass to Earth, only about 35% more massive, and is likely around 10% larger in radius. Gravity on the planet would be only slightly higher. Also, its host star Ross 128 is an evolved star with a stable stellar activity. Many red dwarfs like Proxima Centauri and TRAPPIST-1 are prone to releasing potentially deadly flares caused by powerful magnetic fields. Billions of years of exposure to these flares can potentially strip a planet of its atmosphere and render it sterile with possibly dangerous amounts of radiation. While Ross 128 is known to produce such flares, they are currently much less common and less powerful than those of the previously mentioned stars. Atmospheric potential As of 2017, it is not yet possible to determine if Ross 128 b has an atmosphere because it does not transit the star. However, the James Webb Space Telescope and upcoming massive ground-based telescopes, like the Thirty Meter Telescope and the Extremely Large Telescope, could analyze the possible atmosphere of Ross 128 b without the need of transit. This would enable scientists to find biosignatures in the planet's atmosphere, which are chemicals like oxygen, ozone, and methane that are created by known biological processes. ==See also==