HD 20794 d completes its orbit just shy of two Earth years, placing it well within reach of conditions that might harbor life.

According to the researchers, the planet’s oscillation into and out of the habitable zone provides an exciting scenario for studying how planetary climates evolve and whether they can sustain liquid water.

If liquid water exists, the planet’s elliptical orbit would likely cause it to freeze at greater distances, then thaw as it approaches the star – offering a natural laboratory to examine how temperature fluctuations affect potential habitability.