ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Class M planet

Hi there! So, a Class M planet is a type of planet that scientists believe could potentially support life!

Imagine you're going on a camping trip in the wilderness, and you need a place to set up your tent. You want to find a spot that has all the things you need to survive and thrive - water, food, and shelter. Well, when scientists are looking for planets that could support life, they're doing something similar. They're looking for planets that have all the things life as we know it needs to survive and thrive.

A Class M planet is a planet that has a lot of those things! It's the type of planet that's just the right distance from its star - not too close and not too far - so that it's not too hot or too cold. It's also a planet that's made up of all the right stuff, like water and carbon and other essential elements that living things need to exist.

When scientists think about whether a planet might be a Class M planet, they look at a lot of different things, like its size, how close it is to its star, and whether or not it has an atmosphere. They even look to see if the planet has any moons, because the gravitational pull of a moon can help keep a planet's environment stable and consistent over long periods of time.

So, there you have it - a Class M planet is a planet that could potentially support life! It's like the perfect camping spot, but on a cosmic scale.