The Habitable Zone

The habitable zone is the range of distances around a star where conditions might support liquid water on a planet's surface—a key ingredient for life as we know it. If a planet is too close to its star, it could be too hot, causing water to evaporate; if too far, it could be too cold, leaving water frozen. This zone varies depending on the star's size and temperature. Being in the habitable zone doesn’t guarantee life exists, but it indicates a planet could have the right conditions for life-supporting environments.