Meet GJ 1002 b, a fascinating little world orbiting the cool, dim red dwarf star GJ 1002. Discovered in 2022 through the clever use of radial velocity measurements from multiple ground-based observatories, this exoplanet keeps astronomers on their toes. Though modest in size, GJ 1002 b is intriguing because it circles its star in what might be a cozy "habitable zone," where temperatures could be just right for liquid water—if the conditions align. Nestled relatively close to us in cosmic terms, this planet opens a window into the variety of worlds clinging tightly to small stars across the galaxy, stirring curiosity about what alien skies and landscapes might look like just a handful of light-years away.
