An international research team spearheaded by Australian astronomers has announced the identification of a promising Earth-sized exoplanet candidate located approximately 150 light-years from our solar system. The discovery, detailed in a recent publication in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, marks a significant milestone in the ongoing search for habitable worlds beyond our own.
Designated as candidate HD 137010 b, this celestial body exhibits remarkable similarities to Earth in both physical dimensions and orbital characteristics. It completes a revolution around its host star, which closely resembles our Sun, every 355 days—just 10 days shy of an Earth year. Despite occupying an orbital distance comparable to Earth’s position relative to the Sun, the exoplanet receives approximately 70% less stellar radiation, resulting in considerably cooler surface conditions.
The research collaboration, led by Dr. Alexander Venner from the University of Southern Queensland, utilized observational data from NASA’s extended Kepler K2 mission conducted in 2017. While initial findings position HD 137010 b near the outer boundary of its star’s habitable zone—where liquid water could theoretically exist—preliminary temperature estimates suggest surface conditions may plummet to approximately -70°C in certain regions, creating a climate more analogous to Mars than Earth.
Dr. Chelsea Huang, a co-researcher from the University of Southern Queensland, characterized the discovery as ‘genuinely thrilling’ in statements to the ABC, emphasizing that while this isn’t Earth’s identical twin, it represents meaningful progress toward that ultimate astronomical goal. The scientific team currently estimates a 50% probability that the candidate planet might support habitable conditions.
As the celestial body has only been observed transiting its star on a single occasion, researchers have classified it as a ‘planet candidate’ pending verification through subsequent observational campaigns. The relative brightness of the host star enables comprehensive follow-up studies that could confirm the planet’s status and further elucidate its atmospheric properties and potential for hosting life.