Scientists Unveil Discovery of Potentially Habitable “Ice Cold Earth” Exoplanet
Astronomers have recently revealed the existence of what appears to be an “ice cold Earth,” a rocky exoplanet located less than 150 light-years away that bears striking similarities to our own planet.
Named HD-137010 b, this Earth-like exoplanet candidate is slightly larger and approximately 1.2 times as massive as Earth. It orbits around its host star, HD-137010, every 355 days, mirroring the length of a year on Earth.
Researchers believe that there is a 51 percent chance that HD-137010 b lies within the habitable zone of its star, where conditions may be suitable for liquid water to exist on its surface.
HD-137010 b orbits a K dwarf star, HD-137010, which is smaller and cooler than the Sun. Due to its lower hydrogen consumption rate, the star is expected to have a longer lifespan than our Sun.
This discovery marks a significant milestone in exoplanet research, as HD-137010 b is the first planet candidate with Earth-like characteristics orbiting a Sun-like star that is bright enough for detailed observations.
Further observations are needed to confirm the planetary status of HD-137010 b, but researchers are optimistic about its authenticity based on initial data obtained from NASA’s Kepler space telescope using the transit method.
While HD-137010 b may be colder than Mars, it could potentially harbor water on its surface under the right atmospheric conditions. However, there is a possibility that the planet may be trapped in a ‘snowball’ climate if it has a high CO2 abundance similar to Earth.
Future observations with advanced telescopes like ESA’s PLATO may provide more insights into the potential habitability of HD-137010 b and its surrounding environment.
Despite its frigid temperatures, the discovery of an “ice cold Earth” raises intriguing questions about the possibility of life existing on such a planet, highlighting the diversity and complexity of exoplanetary systems in our galaxy.
This groundbreaking research has been published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.
