Astronomers have found an intriguing new planet, HD 137010 b, about 146 light-years away. This Earth-sized planet orbits a star similar to our sun and could have conditions like those on Mars.
Using data from NASA’s Kepler space telescope, an international team from Australia, the UK, the US, and Denmark discovered this planet. Dr. Chelsea Huang from the University of Southern Queensland (USQ) noted that its orbit is nearly a year long, around 355 days.
The researchers believe there’s about a 50% chance that HD 137010 b lies within its star’s habitable zone. Huang expressed excitement, mentioning, “What’s very exciting about this planet is that it’s much closer than previous candidates.” The closest known Earth-like planet, Kepler-186f, is four times farther and much dimmer.
HD 137010 b was discovered when it passed in front of its star, causing a slight dimming that a group of citizen scientists, including lead author Dr. Alexander Venner, first detected. Venner, who contributed to the project during high school, reflected on how significant this discovery is for him.
Initially, the team questioned their findings, but they confirmed the planet’s transit through careful checks. Huang pointed out that HD 137010 b’s proximity means it will likely be a prime target for future telescopes.
The orbiting star itself is cooler and dimmer than our sun. As a result, HD 137010 b might have surface temperatures that could plunge below -70°C.
Dr. Sara Webb, an astrophysicist at Swinburne University who did not participate in the research, called the discovery exciting but noted that it still requires additional observations to confirm the planet’s status. “Typically, we look for three transits to confirm a planet,” she explained.
Despite its Earth-like qualities, the planet might also be something different, like a “super snowball,” an icy world rich in frozen water. Given the vast distances in our galaxy, however, getting to HD 137010 b would take tens of thousands of years at our current travel speeds.
This discovery has sparked discussions in the scientific community about the potential for life beyond Earth. As technology advances, future studies will delve deeper into the characteristics of HD 137010 b.
The results are detailed in the current issue of the Astrophysical Journal Letters. For more on recent astronomical findings, you can visit NASA.
