Astronomers Discover Earth-Sized Planet Candidate Near Habitable Zone
Researchers have identified HD 137010 b, an Earth-sized planet candidate orbiting a sun-like star 146 light-years away, with potential conditions for habitability.
Astronomers have identified a new Earth-sized planet candidate, HD 137010 b, orbiting a sun-like star approximately 146 light-years from Earth. The discovery was made using data from NASA's Kepler space telescope's K2 mission collected in 2017 and analyzed by an international team led by Dr. Alexander Venner of the University of Southern Queensland.
HD 137010 b is estimated to be about 6% larger than Earth and follows an orbit of approximately 355 days. Researchers estimate it has about a 50% chance of residing in the habitable zone of its star, where conditions might allow for liquid water. However, the planet's surface temperature is projected to be similar to Mars, potentially below -70°C.
Dr. Chelsea Huang, a co-author from the University of Southern Queensland, highlighted the significance of the discovery, noting that the star is relatively close to our solar system, making it a promising target for future telescopic observations.
The initial detection of the planet was made by citizen scientists, including Dr. Venner, who participated in the Planet Hunters project during his secondary school years. He remarked that this experience was instrumental in his pursuit of research.
While the findings are promising, researchers emphasize the need for further observations to confirm the planet's characteristics and assess its potential habitability. Future space missions designed to directly image Earth-like planets may be capable of capturing images of HD 137010 b.