2024-08-13 16:57:06
For several years, and centuries, Scientists have put all their efforts into finding a planet that is similar enough to Earth and could support life, just as the third closest star to the Sun does.
These have been years in which researchers have explored and investigated several exoplanets that may give hope to the tireless search.
However, perhaps that search has ended and it is that recently the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)reported that it found a new planet that has characteristics very similar to those of Earth.
This new star is known as ‘Super Earth’ and according to the space agency, it is located 137 light years away from the blue planet, and is one and a half times wider than Earth.
Also known as ‘TOI-715 b’ orbits within the habitable zone “conservative” around its parent star, a distance from the star that can give the planet “the right temperature for liquid water to form on its surface.”
The space agency noted that “several other factors would have to coincide for there to be surface water, especially if it has a suitable atmosphere”but its location in the habitable zone places it in a “privileged position”.
“The smallest planet could be only slightly larger than Earth and could also live just within the conservative habitable zone.”“the space agency added.
Researchers say that ‘Super Earth’ It would be making its appearance at just the right time, since its mother, a red dwarf star, is cooler and smaller than our Sun.
“Several of these stars are known to host small, rocky worlds. At the moment, they are the best bet for finding habitable planets. These planets have much closer orbits than those around stars like our Sun, but because red dwarfs are smaller and cooler, the planets can cluster closer together and still be safely within the star’s habitable zone.”NASA reported.
These types of planets are not usually seen by telescopes very often. ‘Super Earth’ can be seen once every 19 years, which means one year in that “strange world”so they can be detected more easily.
He Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) found this new planet that can be added to the list of exoplanets examined in habitable zones since 2018.
If confirmed that ‘Super Earth’ It is the size of the Blue Planet and could become the smallest habitable zone star discovered by TESS so far.
For NASA, the discovery of this planet “exceeded initial expectations for TESS by finding an Earth-sized world in the habitable zone.”