Topic: Research News

Scientists have found a new planet that might be similar to Earth. However, it could be much colder than Mars. The discovery was made by analyzing data from NASA's Kepler Space Telescope.

A team of astronomers has identified a possible Earth-like planet called HD 137010 b. This planet is slightly larger than our own Earth and orbits a star that is similar to the Sun. However, there is one big difference - it could be even colder than Mars. The discovery was made by analyzing data from NASA's Kepler Space Telescope, which ended its mission in 2018. The team found evidence of a rocky planet orbiting a nearby star about 146 light-years away. If confirmed, this world could become the first Earth-size exoplanet in a yearlong orbit that passes in front of a nearby, bright Sun-like star, making it an especially valuable target for follow-up research.

The planet may receive far less warmth than Earth does. Scientists estimate it gets under one third of the heat and light our planet receives from the Sun. This means surface temperatures on HD 137010 b could reach no higher than minus 90 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 68 degrees Celsius). For comparison, Mars averages about minus 85 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 65 degrees Celsius).

To confirm this discovery, astronomers must detect repeated transits. A transit occurs when a planet crosses in front of its star from our point of view, briefly dimming the starlight in a small eclipse. In this case, scientists observed only a single

Implications

Scientists have found a new planet that might be similar to Earth. However, it could be much colder than Mars. The discovery was made by analyzing data from NASA's Kepler Space Telescope.