Astronomers Discover Earth-Sized Planet Candidate Potentially Habitable Despite Frigid Temperatures
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A team of international astronomers has identified a promising candidate for an Earth-sized planet orbiting a Sun-like star, raising hopes in the ongoing search for life beyond our solar system. The discovery, announced by NASA and published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, centers on the planet HD 137010 b, which, despite its potentially icy conditions, presents a unique opportunity for further study.
A New World 146 Light Years Away
HD 137010 b is located approximately 146 light years from Earth and orbits a star remarkably similar to our own Sun. The planet’s radius is about 6 percent larger than Earth’s, and its orbital period is nearly identical to our own, completing one revolution around its star in approximately 355 days. This near-Earth orbital period is a key factor in the excitement surrounding this discovery.
Unveiling the Planet Through the Transit Method
Researchers from Australia, England, the United States, and Denmark analyzed data collected in 2017 by NASA’s Kepler Space Telescope K2 mission to detect the planet. The detection relied on the transit method, a technique that identifies planets by observing the slight dimming of a star’s light as a planet passes in front of it. This subtle change in brightness provides crucial information about the planet’s size and orbit.
A Cold World with a Glimmer of Hope
Currently, HD 137010 b resides on the outer edge of its star’s habitable zone, receiving less than a third of the energy Earth receives from the Sun. Estimated surface temperatures could plummet to as low as minus 70 degrees Celsius, comparable to the frigid conditions found on Mars. However, scientists believe there’s a significant possibility – between 40 and 51 percent – that the planet could still harbor liquid water.
“This is the first planetary candidate with an Earth-like radius and orbital properties to cross a Sun-like star that is bright enough for substantial follow-up observations,” one study author stated, highlighting the importance of this finding. A thick, carbon dioxide-rich atmosphere could trap enough heat to warm the surface and create conditions suitable for liquid water, a crucial ingredient for life as we know it.
The Challenge of Confirmation and Future Observations
Despite the promising characteristics, HD 137010 b remains a “candidate” planet because only a single transit has been observed. The planet’s nearly year-long orbital period makes subsequent transits infrequent and difficult to capture. Confirmation will likely come from observations made by NASA’s TESS satellite or Europe’s CHEOPS mission, with potential contributions from next-generation telescopes. .
A Priority Target in the Search for Extraterrestrial Life
The combination of HD 137010 b’s Earth-like size, annual orbit, and the relative brightness of its parent star makes it a high-priority target for further investigation. This planet represents one of the best examples yet discovered of a rocky planet within the habitable zone of a Sun-like star, and its study could unlock new opportunities in the ongoing quest to find life beyond Earth. This discovery underscores the vastness of the universe and the potential for countless other worlds waiting to be discovered.
