NASA has found a second planet within the habitable zone of one star where there could be life - it is 5% smaller than Earth and 100 light years away

By: Maksim Panasovskyi | 12.01.2023, 17:36

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has discovered two exoplanets within the habitable zone of the star TOI 700. There could be water or even life on it.

Here's What We Know

The instrument used for the search is called the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS). It arrived at NASA in 2018. Two years later, scientists used it to find three planets orbiting the star TOI 700. It is about 100 light-years from Earth.

Two of the planets are very close to the star, but the third (TOI 700 d) has settled in the habitable zone. In theory, it could contain the water necessary for the formation of life. TOI 700 d is about 20% larger than our planet, and for a complete rotation around the star it needs 37 days.

The second planet, which is in the habitable zone and meets Earth's standards, is called TOI 700 e. It is 5% smaller than Earth, and the period of revolution around TOI 700 is 28 days. At the same time, it is constantly facing the star with one side, similar to the moon.

NASA will continue to monitor all planets orbiting the star. The TESS instrument will begin its work again next week, and in the future, scientists want to get more information about climatic conditions with the Hubble Space Telescope. The James Webb Space Telescope will most likely not be used.

Source: NASA