Teegarden c
Distance: 12 Lightyears
Star: Teegarden’s Star
Constellation: Aries
There is a lot of hope surrounding Teegarden c. It happens to be the 4th closest potentially habitable exoplanet currently known. Discovered in June 2019 using the Calar Alto Observatory, we found that it was only 12 lightyears away. While still quite far, the distance is good news. The problem, however, is its host star.
Teegarden’s Star happens to be a red dwarf. This brings down its temperature greatly, meaning the planet is likely completely iced over. This is partially good news as ice means that water is likely to present. Yet ice blocks our view regarding a lot of major things, such as studying its atmosphere overall. However, it does appear rocky with an iron core. We know it likely holds an average surface temperature of -47 degrees Celsius or -52.7 degrees Fahrenheit. If the atmosphere is thicker, however, average temperatures could be around -18 degrees Celsius or around 0 degrees Fahrenheit. Unlike other red dwarf stars, Teegarden’s Star does not seem to emit strong solar flares. Making it likely habitable.