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Potentially Habitable Earth-Sized⁤ Planet Discovered 150 Light-Years Away

Published: 2026/01/28⁤ 14:58:31

Astronomers have announced the finding of a promising candidate for a habitable, Earth-sized planet orbiting a Sun-like star approximately 150 light-years⁣ from Earth. ⁣The planet, designated HD⁢ 137010 b,⁣ is generating excitement within the scientific community due to its size and potential to harbor liquid water – a key ingredient for life as we know it.

The Discovery of HD 137010 b

A team ⁢of researchers led by the University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ) in ⁤Australia reported the findings in the Astrophysical Journal Letters. The planet ⁣orbits a star remarkably similar to our own Sun, and is approximately 6% ‍larger than earth. This ‍makes it ⁤a especially intriguing target for further investigation. The research involved collaboration with scientists from Harvard University and the University of Oxford.

A “Earth-Meets-Mars” World?

Researchers have described ⁢HD 137010 b as a‍ potential “Earth-meets-Mars”⁢ world. This analogy stems from its size,comparable to Earth,and its orbital distance from its star,which is similar‍ to the distance between Mars and our Sun. While Mars is currently inhospitable, the comparison highlights the planet’s potential