Home alone, not anymore! At distance of 137 light-years, astronomers discover a ‘habi

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Home alone, not anymore! At distance of 137 light-years, astronomers discover a ‘habitable’ Super-Earth
Written by: Zerneela Mohammed Wakil
R3: https://www.financialexpress.com/lif...h-bkg/3384514/

: Astronomers uncover a ‘habitable’ Super-Earth, TOI-715 b, 137 light-years away—a beacon of possibility in the cosmic quest for habitable planets.
Written by Zerneela Mohammed Wakil
February 5, 2024 12:54 IST

Illustration Photo: https://www.financialexpress.com/wp-...a9d.jpg?w=1024

An illustration that shows one way that planet TOI-715 b, a super-Earth in the habitable zone around its star, might appear to a nearby observer. (Photo: Nasa)
The quest for Earth 2.0 has been lengthy and challenging, with astronomers worldwide diligently exploring every potential avenue to discover a world similar to ours. Recently, their focus shifted towards a celestial neighbor located a mere 137 light-years away—a “super-Earth” named TOI-715 b, found orbiting a diminutive, reddish star.

This intriguing revelation may not stand alone; there’s a possibility of a companion planet, approximately Earth-sized, both residing within the “conservative” habitable zone encircling their parent star.

TOI-715 b, boasting a size one and a half times that of Earth, follows an orbit perfectly situated at the optimal distance from its star, potentially allowing for liquid water on its surface—a crucial element for life as we understand it.

The “conservative” habitable zone, characterized by conditions favoring liquid water, distinguishes itself from the broader “optimistic” habitable zone. Although the presence of water hinges on various factors, including an appropriate atmosphere, TOI-715 b’s location makes it an enticing subject for further investigation.

This discovery aligns fortuitously with advancements in space technology, exemplified by Nasa’s James Webb Space Telescope. These tools not only detect distant exoplanets but also analyze their atmospheric compositions, providing essential insights into the possibility of life beyond our solar system.

TOI-715 b’s parent star, a red dwarf, is smaller and cooler than our Sun, proving to be a fertile ground for locating small, rocky planets capable of harboring life. Despite their proximity to their stars, these planets remain within the habitable zone due to the diminished heat output of red dwarfs.

The proximity also facilitates more frequent transits—instances where a planet passes in front of its star from our perspective—making them easier to detect and observe. TESS (the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite) identified TOI-715 b using this method, contributing to the expanding list of potentially habitable exoplanets since its launch in 2018.

Confirmation of the existence of the second, Earth-sized planet would mark a significant milestone, representing the smallest habitable-zone planet discovered by TESS thus far. This discovery has already exceeded expectations by unveiling an Earth-sized world within the habitable zone.

As astronomers persist in their exploration of these distant realms, TOI-715 b emerges as a beacon of possibility in the ongoing quest to identify other habitable planets.
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Personal note: Now this new planet would be stretch to get to - and I doubt the time
table to get there - and would be several lifetimes or more - and upon landing there
without food stuffs and other unknowns that would be needed - could just be absent
such as breathable air and water for one. But what the hell lets go anyway it beats
the hell out of living on our blue marble soon to radiate a glowing ball of misery
and a nuclear waste land! Most likely.
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