Astronomers Identify Earth-Sized Planet Candidate 150 Light-Years Away
Researchers have discovered HD 137010 b, a planet slightly larger than Earth, located near the outer edge of its star's habitable zone, approximately 150 light-years from Earth.
An international team of astronomers has identified a candidate exoplanet, HD 137010 b, situated about 150 light-years from Earth. The planet is estimated to be approximately 6% larger than Earth and orbits a Sun-like star. Its orbital period is believed to be around 355 days, placing it near the outer edge of the star's habitable zone, where conditions might allow for liquid water on its surface.
The discovery was made using data from NASA's Kepler space telescope's extended K2 mission, captured in 2017. The planet was detected when it transited its host star, causing a slight dimming observed by the telescope. This transit event was initially identified by citizen scientists participating in the Planet Hunters project, including Dr. Alexander Venner, who was a high school student at the time.
Dr. Chelsea Huang, a researcher at the University of Southern Queensland, noted that the planet's proximity and the brightness of its host star make it a prime candidate for future observations with next-generation telescopes. However, she also mentioned that the planet's surface temperature could be similar to that of Mars, potentially dropping below -70°C.
While the initial findings are promising, further observations are required to confirm HD 137010 b as a bona fide exoplanet. Dr. Sara Webb, an astrophysicist at Swinburne University, emphasized the need for additional transit detections to validate the discovery.