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A new study published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society has identified 45 rocky exoplanets that orbit within the habitable zones of their host stars, making them prime candidates in the search for life beyond Earth. The list includes both well-known exoplanets like Proxima Centauri b and TRAPPIST-1f, as well as lesser-known worlds like TOI-715 b. The researchers hope this shortlist will guide astronomers in observing the most promising exoplanets for signs of habitability and potential alien life.
Why it matters
Finding habitable exoplanets is a key step in the search for life beyond our solar system. By identifying the 45 most promising candidates, astronomers can focus their efforts on the worlds most likely to host the essential ingredients for life, like liquid water on their surfaces.
The details
The researchers used data from the Gaia mission and NASA Exoplanet Archive to identify exoplanets orbiting within the habitable zones of their host stars, as well as those receiving a similar amount of energy as Earth. The list includes both Earth-sized rocky worlds and super-Earths, with some in unusual elliptical orbits that allow them to move in and out of the habitable zone. Observing these planets can help astronomers understand the limits of planetary habitability.
The study was published in March 2026 in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
The players
Gillis Lowry
A graduate student at San Francisco State University and co-author of the study.
Abigail Bohl
An astronomer at Cornell University and co-author of the study.
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What they’re saying
“While it’s hard to say what makes something more likely to have life, identifying where to look is the first key step—so the goal of our project was to say ‘here are the best targets for observation’.”
— Gillis Lowry, Graduate student
“Observing these planets can help us understand when habitability is lost, how much energy is too much, and which planets remain habitable—or maybe never were.”
— Abigail Bohl, Astronomer
What’s next
The researchers hope that by identifying these 45 prime exoplanet candidates, astronomers will be able to focus their observations on the worlds most likely to host the conditions for life, bringing us closer to finding evidence of alien life beyond Earth.
The takeaway
This study represents a significant step forward in the search for habitable exoplanets, providing astronomers with a shortlist of the most promising worlds to investigate further for signs of life outside our solar system.