A Potentially Habitable 'Earth-like' Planet Discovered 150 Light Years Away
Australian astronomers have made a groundbreaking discovery: a potentially habitable 'Earth-like' planet located a mere 150 light years away. This exciting find, named HD 137010 b, is nearly identical in size to Earth and has a similar orbital period, with its 'year' lasting 355 days. However, it receives only about 70% of the light Earth receives from the Sun, making it slightly cooler.
Despite this, the planet's surface temperature is estimated to drop below -70 degrees Celsius in some areas, with a climate more akin to Mars. The discovery was made by an international team led by Dr. Alexander Venner from the University of Southern Queensland, using data from NASA's 2017 Kepler extended K2 mission.
The findings, published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters, suggest that HD 137010 b is near the 'outer edge of the habitable zone,' where liquid water could potentially exist under the right conditions. Dr. Venner estimates there's a 50% chance the planet is habitable, but it's only been spotted passing in front of its star once, earning it the title of 'planet candidate.'
Dr. Chelsea Huang, another researcher involved, expressed her excitement, stating, 'Since the discovery of the first exoplanet 30 years ago, we’ve always tried to find Earth’s twin. We haven’t found that yet. But we are a step closer.'
This discovery marks a significant step forward in the search for extraterrestrial life, and further observations will help determine if HD 137010 b is indeed a confirmed planet.
