The new super-Earth TOI-715 b, located 137 light-years away from us, orbits within the habitable zone of a red dwarf and may contain the conditions for life. The possible second Earth-sized planet in the same system represents a rich area for further research.

Discovery of Super Earth

Astronomers have identified a “super-Earth” exoplanet worthy of further study orbiting a small, reddish star just 137 light-years away, which is extremely close to us by astronomical standards. This system may also contain a second planet roughly the size of Earth.

Basic facts about the planetary system

The larger planet, called TOI-715 b, is about one and a half times the width of Earth and orbits within the “conservative” habitable zone around its parent star. This is the distance from the star that would give the planet the temperature necessary for liquid water to form on its surface.

Many other factors must also come together for surface water to be present, especially for it to have a suitable atmosphere. But the conservative enclave — a narrower and potentially more reliable definition than the broader “optimistic” enclave — puts it first, at least in rough measurements so far.

A small planet can be only slightly larger than Earth and also live within the conservative habitable zone.

Advances in exoplanet research

Astronomers are beginning to write an entirely new chapter in our understanding of exoplanets, planets outside our solar system. The latest spacecraft, including NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, are designed not only to detect these distant worlds but also to reveal some of their features. This includes the composition of their atmospheres, which may offer clues to the possible existence of life.

The recently discovered super-Earth TOI-715 b may emerge at the right time. Its parent star is a red dwarf that is smaller and cooler than our Sun; A few such stars are known to contain small rocky worlds. They are currently the best choice for finding habitable planets.

These planets orbit much closer together than planets around stars like our Sun, but because red dwarfs are smaller and cooler, planets can pack closer together and still reside safely in the star’s habitable zone. Narrower orbits also mean that they cross the faces of their stars much more frequently (if observed with our space telescopes).

In the case of planet B, this means one “year” every 19 days on this strange world. Thus, these transiting planets (‘transiting’) can be more easily detected and observed more frequently.

Such is the case with TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Search Satellite), which has discovered a new planet and replenished astronomers’ supply of habitable exoplanets since its launch in 2018. For example, observing such transits of an Earth-sized planet around a Sun-like star (and waiting an Earth year, or 365 days, to capture another transit) is beyond the capabilities of current space telescopes.

More discovery potential

TOI-175 b joins the list of habitable planets that can be examined more closely with the Webb telescope, perhaps even for atmospheric signatures. Much will depend on the planet’s other characteristics, including how large it is and whether it qualifies as a “water world”; This makes its atmosphere, if present, more visible and much less difficult to detect than a larger, denser planet. and a drier world would likely keep its low-profile atmosphere closer to the surface.

If a possible second Earth-sized planet is confirmed to be in the system, it would be the smallest habitable planet detected by TESS. The discovery also exceeded TESS’s initial expectations by finding an Earth-sized world in the habitable zone.

An international team of scientists led by Georgina Dransfield from the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom published a paper in January 2024 about their discovery of “A planet with a habitable zone of 1.55 R.”_⊕It is located in TOI-715, an M4 star near the southern ecliptic. Pole” in the journal “Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.” International instruments used to confirm the planet included the Gemini-South telescopes, Las Cumbres observatories, ExTrA telescopes, the SPECULOOS network and the TRAPPIST-south telescope.