habitable zone

The habitable zone, often called the "Goldilocks zone," is the range of distances from a star where conditions might be just right for liquid water to exist on a planet’s surface. This is important because liquid water is essential for life as we know it. If a planet is too close to its star, it becomes too hot, causing water to evaporate. If it's too far, it becomes too cold, freezing water. The habitable zone varies depending on the star's size and brightness, guiding scientists in the search for potentially life-supporting planets.