The closest star to the Sun, Proxima Centauri, was recently found to have a planet in its habitable zone. Proxima Centauri is a main sequence star with spectral type M. How would its habitable zone differ from the habitable zone of our Sun?

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The habitable zone of a star depends on its luminosity and temperature. M-type stars like Proxima Centauri are cooler and less luminous than the Sun, which is a G-type star. Therefore, the habitable zone around Proxima Centauri would be closer to it than Earth's orbit is to the Sun, to ensure that a planet could maintain liquid water on its surface.

The Closest Star to the Sun, Proxima Centauri, Was Recently