Have we found a second Earth? A planet that's almost identical to our own, but with a harsh climate that makes it inhospitable. Australian astronomers have discovered a planet named HD 137010 b, located 150 light years away, that shares many similarities with Earth. It's the same size, has a similar orbital period of 355 days, and is at a comparable distance from its sun. However, it receives only 30% of the light Earth does, resulting in a surface temperature of -70 degrees Celsius in some areas, making it more akin to Mars than our home planet. This discovery was made by an international team led by Dr. Alexander Venner from the University of Southern Queensland, using data from NASA's 2017 Kepler extended K2 mission. The findings were published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters, and the planet is considered to be near the outer edge of the habitable zone, where liquid water could potentially exist. While it's not yet confirmed as a planet, the team has a 50% chance of it being habitable. The term 'planet candidate' is used until further observations can prove its status as a confirmed planet. This exciting discovery has sparked curiosity among astronomers, who have been searching for Earth's twin for 30 years. Dr. Chelsea Huang, a researcher on the team, expressed her enthusiasm, stating that they are a step closer to finding Earth's twin. However, the planet's harsh climate and low temperatures make it challenging for human life to thrive. The team is now focused on gathering more data to determine its habitability and potential for supporting life. This discovery invites further exploration and discussion, as scientists continue to search for potentially habitable exoplanets in our galaxy.
