Astronomers have identified 45 rocky exoplanets located within the habitable zones of their stars, which may possess conditions suitable for life. This discovery could help answer fundamental questions about life in the universe and reshape our current understanding of the cosmos.

For many years, the search for life beyond Earth has remained one of astronomy’s main goals. There are billions of planets orbiting various stars throughout the universe. Although more than 6,000 exoplanets have been discovered with the help of instruments like the TESS satellite, only a small number are situated in habitable zones—an essential factor for the potential emergence of life.

In a study published in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, researchers identified 45 rocky exoplanets that could potentially support life. Among them are well-known objects such as Proxima Centauri b, located about four light-years from Earth, and TRAPPIST-1f.

Special attention is given to the exoplanets TRAPPIST-1 d, e, f, and g, which are about 40 light-years away from Earth. These worlds may have liquid water on their surfaces. Some of these planets receive a similar amount of light as Earth, making them promising candidates for further study.

This discovery allows astronomers to study the characteristics of stellar habitable zones in greater detail and refine the direction of future research. In the long term, this could lead to the discovery of new exoplanets and expand our knowledge about the potential for life elsewhere in the universe.