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Overview of Gliese 581g

Gliese 581g is a super-Earth exoplanet located about 20.3 light-years away in the habitable zone of its host star, Gliese 581, and is considered a potential candidate for supporting liquid water and possibly life, though its existence has been subject to ongoing debate.

Discovery

It was announced in 2010 by a team of astronomers led by Steven Vogt, who detected it using radial velocity methods, which measure the star's wobble caused by the gravitational pull of orbiting planets.

Characteristics of Gliese 581g

• Mass: ~3-4 Earth masses (~0.01 Jupiter masses)
• Radius: Estimated to be similar to Earth's, likely around 1.2-1.4 Earth radii
• Orbital period: ~36.6 days
• Distance from its star: ~0.15 AU
• Surface temperature: Estimated to allow for liquid water, potentially around 230-270 K (-43°C to -3°C)

Habitability Potential

It is situated in the habitable zone (or Goldilocks zone) of its star, where temperatures could allow for liquid water to exist on its surface, making it a candidate for potential habitability.