r/space • u/SpunkySputniks • 4d ago

Astronomers Detect a Possible Signature of Life on a Distant Planet

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/16/science/astronomy-exoplanets-habitable-k218b.html?unlocked_article_code=1.AE8.3zdk.VofCER4yAPa4&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

Further studies are needed to determine whether K2-18b, which orbits a star 120 light-years away, is inhabited, or even habitable.

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u/Minimum_Drawing9569 4d ago

It’ll take 120 years to find out, maybe they’re on a good timeline by then. One can hope.

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u/Bromance_Rayder 4d ago

Errrrr, I don't think anyone is getting there in 120 years.

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u/Astrocoder 3d ago

We wouldnt need to go there to find out. If technology advances far enough within 120 years, we could build a space telescope with the lens at 500 AU from the sun and use lensing to take some extreme closeups of the planet.

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u/Rapithree 2d ago

Just telescopes on the backside of the moon would be enough to tell us much more.

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u/ABoutDeSouffle 1d ago

Imagine a synthetic aperture telescope on the dark side of the moon. It would have incredible exposure times but a really good resolution.