Scientists at the European Southern Observatory in Chile and Queen Mary University in London announced today in Nature that they have located the planet orbiting Proxima Centauri.

The planet is the right distance from the star to fulfill the conditions necessary for liquid water to exist on its surface, essential for a planet to support life.

This artist’s impression shows the planet Proxima b orbiting the red dwarf star Proxima Centauri, our closest star. The double star Alpha Centauri AB is also visible in the image.(ESO/M. Kornmesser)