Exoplanet Discovery May Shed Light on Habitability Limits.
Astronomers plan to observe LP 890-9c, a super-Earth exoplanet, with the James Webb Telescope to predict Earth's future as the Sun expands. LP 890-9c orbits a red dwarf star and is just at the edge of the habitable zone, making it a potential candidate for liquid water. The planet's climate models could reveal whether it is a hot but habitable Earth, a steamy greenhouse world, or a desolate, inhospitable Venus. Studying LP 890-9c could provide insight into Earth's far future and how long it has before oceans evaporate.