Potentially habitable exoplanet discovered 137 light years away

NASA announces the discovery of a “Super-Earth” exoplanet orbiting in the habitable zone of a Red Dwarf Star, 137 light years away

Scientists have found a “Super-Earth,” an exoplanet circling within the “habitable zone” of a Red Dwarf Star known as TOI-715, located 137 light-years away from our planet. 

In an official announcement this week, NASA revealed that the planet TOI-715b, which is one-and-a-half times larger than Earth, orbits within the habitable zone of its star at a distance, allowing it to complete one revolution around it every 19 days. 

The proximity to its star suggests that liquid water could potentially exist on its surface, as it falls within the star’s “habitable zone.” 

The announcement also suggested the likelihood of another planet, possibly similar in size to Earth, existing within the same system as TOI-715b. 

An international team of scientists, led by Dr. Georgina Dransfield from the University of Birmingham, made the discovery using the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS). 

The study also concluded that the Red Dwarf Star hosting the “Super-Earth” exoplanet is smaller and cooler than the Sun, and such stars are known to have rocky planets in their orbits. 

The short orbit of TOI-715b around its star, completing one revolution in just 19 days, makes it more easily observable, equivalent to a year on this planet. 

The research also highlighted that if another planet is detected within the system centered around the star TOI-715, it could potentially be the smallest planet in the habitable zone discovered by TESS. 

The findings were published in the scientific journal Monthly Notices of the Royal  Astronomical Society. 

Source: AA