NASA Discovers Habitable 'Super-Earth' with Distance of 137 Light-Years
Science and Technology
4 min read
Scientists at NASA have discovered a planet called TOI-715 b, located 137 light-years away from Earth. The planet is one and a half times wider than Earth and has the potential to support life.
About TOI-715 b
- TOI-715 b revolves around its parent star within the conservative habitable zone.
- This means that the planet is situated at a distance from its star that could provide the right temperature for liquid water to form on its surface.
- With a size one and a half times that of Earth, the planet is potentially conducive to liquid water, which is crucial for life as we understand it.
- The discovery of TOI-715 b coincides with recent advancements in space technology, such as the James Webb Space Telescope developed by NASA, which can detect and analyze the atmospheric compositions of distant exoplanets.
- The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) identified TOI-715 by using this method.
- TOI-715b's parent star is a red dwarf, which is smaller and colder than our sun. Red dwarfs are currently the most promising option for discovering potentially habitable exoplanets, as they are smaller and cooler, allowing planets to orbit closer while remaining within the star's habitable zone.
- The "conservative" habitable zone is characterized by conditions that favor the presence of liquid water, distinguishing it from the broader "optimistic" habitable zone.
- While the presence of liquid water depends on various factors, including an appropriate atmosphere, the discovery of TOI-715 b is a significant step towards finding habitable worlds beyond our solar system.
James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is a telescope that observes infrared light. Its advanced instruments allow it to see objects that are too old, far away, or faint to be seen by the Hubble Space Telescope. The project is a collaboration between the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and the European Space Agency (ESA).
Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS)
The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) is a space telescope that is part of NASA's Explorer program. It looks for exoplanets using the transit method and can scan an area 400 times larger than the Kepler mission.
Light-year
A light-year is a unit which measures the distance light travels in one year. Light moves at a speed of 186,000 miles (300,000 kilometers) per second and covers a distance of 5.88 trillion miles (9.46 trillion kilometers) in a year
