Astronomers have discovered a distant, Earth-sized planet that could potentially support life, according to NASA. The candidate, named HD 137010 b, orbits a Sun-like star approximately 146 light-years from Earth and may have icy, Mars-like conditions. The findings were published this week in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.
The international research team, comprising scientists from Australia, the UK, the US, and Denmark, identified the planet using data collected in 2017 by NASA’s Kepler Space Telescope during its extended K2 mission. HD 137010 b was observed during a brief transit, when it passed in front of its star and caused a subtle dimming of the star’s light.
The planet completes an orbit in roughly 355 days, similar to Earth’s, said Chelsea Huang of the University of Southern Queensland, a co-author of the study. Most other Earth-like exoplanets around Sun-like stars are far smaller, more distant, or too faint for detailed study. Researchers described HD 137010 b as “the first planet candidate with Earth-like radius and orbital properties transiting a Sun-like star bright enough for substantial follow-up observations.”
Situated near the outer edge of its star’s habitable zone, HD 137010 b receives less than a third of the sunlight and heat Earth does, giving it potentially frigid surface temperatures of minus 68 degrees Celsius, comparable to Mars. Scientists suggest that a thick, carbon dioxide-rich atmosphere could help retain heat and make conditions more suitable for life, estimating a 40–51% chance that the planet lies within the habitable zone.
As a candidate planet, HD 137010 b requires further confirmation. Only a single transit has been observed, and its year-long orbit makes repeated observations rare. Future studies by NASA’s TESS satellite or Europe’s CHEOPS mission could provide additional data, although some observations may depend on next-generation telescopes.
The researchers emphasised that the planet’s Earth-like size, orbit, and bright host star make it a compelling target for follow-up studies to better understand the nature of planets beyond the solar system and their potential to support life.
