India, May 24 -- More analysisneeded to see if exoplanet Gliese 12 b has an atmosphere & maintains temperaturesthat allows liquid water

Astronomers have discovered a potentially habitable exoplanet about 40 light-years away from Earth - one of the closest ones so far. The exciting discovery of Gliese 12 b was detailed in a new study published in journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society .

According to the study, the exoplanet's average surface temperature is 42 degrees Celsius, which is lower than the majority of the 5,000 or so exoplanets discovered thus far. Its size is comparable to Venus and is slightly smaller than Earth.

Gliese 12 b, however, is warmer than the Earth's average surface temperature of 15degC. Still,...