Astronomers have identified a planet approximately 146 light-years from Earth that shares several characteristics with our own, raising interest in the potential for habitable worlds beyond our solar system. The candidate planet, designated HD 137010 b, orbits a sun-like star and is estimated to be about 6% larger than Earth.
The discovery, stemming from data collected by the now-retired Kepler Space Telescope in 2017 and published in in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, suggests HD 137010 b has an orbital period of roughly 355 days – remarkably similar to Earth’s year. This orbital timeframe places the planet within the star’s habitable zone, the region around a star where temperatures could allow for liquid water to exist on a planetary surface.
However, the potential for liquid water, and therefore habitability, is tempered by the planet’s likely frigid temperatures. Scientists estimate the surface temperature of HD 137010 b to be around -68 degrees Celsius (-90 degrees Fahrenheit), comparable to the average temperature on Mars. This cold is attributed to the lower brightness and cooler temperature of its star, HD 137010, compared to our Sun. The star is approximately 150 light-years from our solar system.
Despite the low temperatures, researchers haven’t ruled out the possibility of more hospitable conditions. A dense atmosphere rich in carbon dioxide could create a significant greenhouse effect, potentially warming the planet’s surface enough to allow for liquid water, at least temporarily. Further investigation into the planet’s atmospheric composition is crucial to determining its true potential for habitability.
The discovery of HD 137010 b is significant because of its Earth-like size and location within the habitable zone of a sun-like star. More than 6,000 exoplanets have been discovered to date, but many are gas giants or orbit their stars too closely to support life as we know it. This candidate stands out as a potentially rocky planet with characteristics more akin to Earth.
The identification of HD 137010 b was aided by the Planet Hunters project, which enlists both professional scientists and amateur enthusiasts in analyzing telescope data to identify new planets. This collaborative approach highlights the power of citizen science in expanding our understanding of the universe and the diversity of planetary systems.
Further research is needed to fully characterize HD 137010 b. Determining the composition of its atmosphere, confirming the presence of carbon dioxide, and assessing other key characteristics will be vital in evaluating its habitability. Spectroscopic methods will be instrumental in analyzing the planet’s atmosphere in greater detail.
One of the primary challenges to studying HD 137010 b is its distance – 146 light-years from Earth. This distance limits the capabilities of current telescopes to observe the planet with high resolution. Future generations of telescopes, such as the James Webb Space Telescope, will be essential for more detailed observations.
The discovery of planets like HD 137010 b is shaping the future of exoplanet research and astrobiology. Finding planets similar in size and orbital characteristics to Earth is becoming a key priority in the search for life beyond our solar system. Understanding planets orbiting cooler, less luminous stars – like HD 137010 – is increasingly important, as these types of stars are more common and longer-lived than stars like our Sun, potentially offering stable environments for life to evolve.
HD 137010 b adds to the growing list of targets for astrobiological and planetological research. Knowledge of atmospheric conditions, surface temperatures, and orbital dynamics are fundamental to assessing the potential for life. The ongoing analysis of data from the Kepler Space Telescope continues to yield significant discoveries, even after the mission’s completion in .
As Dr. Chelsea Huang, a researcher at the University of Southern Queensland (USQ) in Australia, noted, “What’s very exciting about this particular Earth-sized planet is that its star is only [about] 150 light-years away from our solar system.” This relative proximity makes HD 137010 b a particularly promising candidate for follow-up observations. Compared to Kepler-186f, another planet in a habitable zone, HD 137010 b is significantly closer and brighter, facilitating more detailed study.
While HD 137010 b represents a compelling target in the search for habitable worlds, it’s important to remember that much remains unknown. Continued observation and technological advancements will be crucial in determining whether this distant planet could potentially harbor life.
