Exoplanet Discovered 137 Light Years From Earth
In their research, scientists have discovered a "Super Earth" exoplanet orbiting a red dwarf star called "TOI-715", 137 light years from Earth, in the habitable zone.
In NASA’s statement, it was reported that the planet called “TOI-715 b”, which is 1.5 times the size of the Earth, orbited in the habitable zone, that is, at a distance from the star it orbits at a distance that would allow liquid water to be found on its surface, and completed a revolution around the star in 19 days.
The statement said that there is probably another Earth-sized planet in the system to which “TOI-715 b” is connected.
The exoplanet was discovered by an international team of scientists led by University of Birmingham research fellow Dr. Georgina Dransfield using the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS).
To confirm their findings, the team used the Gemini-South telescope, the Las Cumbres Observatory (LCO) telescopes in California, USA, the Transiting Exoplanets and Atmospheres (ExTrA) telescopes of the European Southern Observatory (ESO), the Search for Habitable Planets Covering Ultra-Cool Stars (SPECULOOS) network and the Small Telescope for Transiting Planets and Planetary Objects – South telescope.
Could Be The Smallest Planet In The Habitable Zone Ever Discovered
The red dwarf star to which the “Super Earth” exoplanet, which is 137 light years away from Earth, is attached is smaller and cooler than the Sun, and such stars are known to harbor planets made of rock in their orbits, the study said.
“TOI-715 b” can be imaged more frequently as it completes one revolution around the star in 19 days, which corresponds to one year.
In the study, it was stated that if the other planet, which is likely to be in the system centered on the star “TOI-715”, is detected, it could be the smallest planet in the habitable zone discovered by TESS.
The research was published in the journal “Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society”.
