CNN —Astronomers have discovered a “super-Earth,” or a world larger than our planet, orbiting a star about 137 light-years away.
The super-Earth exoplanet, known as TOI-715b, orbits a red dwarf star that is cooler and smaller than our sun.
“This discovery is exciting as it’s the first super-Earth from TESS to be found within the conservative habitable zone,” Dransfield said.
If the Earth-size planet is confirmed, it will become the smallest planet yet that TESS has found in a habitable zone.
TOI-715b’s star has only shown a couple of flares within the past two years and isn’t considered active, making it an old star, Dransfield said.
Persons:
TESS, Georgina Dransfield, Dransfield, James Webb, Webb, “, isn’t, PLATO, ” Dransfield, ”
Organizations:
CNN —, Royal Astronomical Society, Researchers, University of Birmingham’s School of Physics, Astronomers, James Webb Space Telescope
Locations:
United Kingdom