The nearest stellar system, α Centauri, is among the best-suited for imaging habitable-zone exoplanets (e.g., refs. In this context, habitable refers to the possibility of a planet with a broadly Earth-like atmosphere to host liquid water on its surface.
To enable finding and exploring potentially Earth-like planets, exoplanet imaging capabilities are progressing towards lower-mass planets in the habitable zones of nearby stars (e.g., refs. Meanwhile, giant exoplanets have been imaged on wide orbits-enabling direct studies of their orbits and atmospheres (e.g., refs. Such worlds would help us to understand the context of our own planet and would themselves become targets of searches for life beyond the solar system (e.g., refs.
Nature Communications volume 12, Article number: 922 ( 2021)Ī primary pursuit of modern astronomy is the search for worlds that are potentially similar to Earth. Imaging low-mass planets within the habitable zone of α Centauri
