[Telepathic Intruder]

It must have happened at least 4.3 years ago or we wouldn't know about it.

Proxima Centauri is a red dwarf, which tend to be unstable flare stars. It is possible to have stable ones, but most have violent outbursts that would periodically roast any planets in their habitable zones.

Red dwarfs make up about 75% of all stars in the galaxy. Even if only a few percent of them are stable, unlike our nearest friend here, that still means billions of chances for life in our galaxy alone.

[Tallguy]

Red dwarfs make up about 75% of all stars in the galaxy. Even if only a few percent of them are stable, unlike our nearest friend here, that still means billions of chances for life in our galaxy alone.

The more I read about the function of the Moon & tidal forces of the Earth-Moon system the more I realize the criticality of the moon's existence to the formation of life on Earth. So looking for rocky planets with a stars presumed "habitable zone" is only the first step, and one that doesn't get you very far toward finding life.