How Close Is the Nearest Potentially Habitable Exoplanet?

Astronomers have identified Proxima Centauri b, a rocky planet just over four light-years away, as the closest potentially habitable exoplanet. Orbiting our nearest stellar neighbor, it resides in its star's habitable zone, where liquid water could exist. However, intense stellar radiation poses challenges for habitability, prompting further research into its atmosphere and potential for life.