Astronomers discover super-Earth in habitable zone: liquid water possible

At a distance of 137 light years, a planet orbits its star, which is comparable to our Earth. Astronomers discovered the rocky planet, which is about one and a half times the size of Earth, using the NASA Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) telescope. The American space agency writes this on its website. And what’s more, the planet TOI-715 b is said to be moving into the habitable zone around its sun.

This so-called super-Earth – as astronomers call Earth-like celestial bodies – takes about 19 days to orbit its parent star. This means that TOI-715 b orbits relatively close to its star, NASA writes. Because the Sun is a red dwarf, liquid water could still have formed on the surface of TOI-715 b.

Red dwarfs are suns that are smaller and cooler than our sun. Observations of solar systems with red dwarf stars have shown that more and more rocky planets have formed there. According to NASA, such systems currently hold the most promise for researchers looking for habitable planets.

In the case of TOI-175 b, observation with the James Webb telescope could be useful, it is said. Scientists could use the powerful telescope to determine whether the planet has an atmosphere.

The solar system TOI-175 could provide another surprise. Astronomers suspect there is another planet there. The celestial body, said to be only slightly larger than our Earth, is likely just inside the habitable zone around its parent star.

If this assumption is confirmed, the celestial body would be the smallest planet in a habitable zone yet discovered using TESS, according to NASA.

(tonline)