There may be a habitable world at the Sun's closest solar twin.

In the complex space inhabited by the Alpha Centauri triple star system, JWST has just discerned the presence of a giant exoplanet orbiting Alpha Centauri A, the most Sun-like of the three stars.

Moreover, that exoplanet is in the star's habitable zone – the perfect distance from the star for liquid water to pool.

But wait – there's more. Evidence of the prospective world, which is tentatively known as Alpha Centauri Ab, was discovered using direct imaging in what could be a significant breakthrough for exoplanet science.

"If confirmed, the potential planet seen in the Webb image of Alpha Centauri A would mark a new milestone for exoplanet imaging efforts," says astrophysicist Aniket Sanghi of the California Institute

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