What is Gliese 581 c?
[[File:Gliese_581_c_-_ESO_Impression.jpg|thumb|Conception of what Gliese 581 c might look like.]] '''Gliese 581 c''' is a [[exoplanet]] that orbits the [[red dwarf]] [[star]] [[Gliese 581]]. It is located about 20 light years away in the [[Libra (constellation)|Libra]]. It is about six times as massive as [[Earth]],<ref>https://www.space.com/36196-gliese-581c.html | Gliese 581c: Super-Earth Exoplanet | March 24, 2017</ref> and circles its star about 11 million [[kilometer|kilometers]] from it (the Earth is 150 million kilometers away from the [[sun]]). It takes it 13 days to circle the star once.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/6589157.stm |title=New 'super-Earth' found in space |access-date = 25 April 2007 |date=25 April 2007 |publisher=BBC News }}</ref> When it was discovered in 2007, it was thought to be Earth-like and habitable. '''<big>Habitability</big>''' When Gliese 581 c was discovered, it was initially thought to be in the [[habitable zone]] of its star, Gliese 581, a red dwarf located about 20.4 light years away. This zone is typically defined as the range around a star where liquid water could theoretically exist on a planet's surface. However, subsequent studies indicated that Gliese 581 c orbits too close to its star for stable habitability. '''<big>Greenhouse Effect Concerns</big>''' The proximity to Gliese 581 likely causes a strong [[greenhouse effect]] on Gliese 581 c. This effect is similar to Venus in our solar system, where thick atmospheric gases trap heat, leading to extreme temperatures that prevent liquid water from existing on the surface. If this scenario is true for Gliese 581 c, then it would likely be inhospitable to life as we know it. Red Dwarf Activity: Gliese 581 is a red dwarf, a type of star known for its stellar activity, including frequent and intense solar flares. These flares emit high levels of radiation that can strip away a planet's atmosphere, making it challenging for life to survive. Red dwarfs are generally less stable than stars like o