Scientists discover another planet that could support life: only 5% smaller than Earth

Scientists have made an incredible discovery, discovering a potentially habitable planet. It is similar in size to the Earth and orbits a small star about 100 light years away.

The discovery of the new planet was officially announced at a meeting of the American Astronomical Society. It was named TOI 700 e. Details are reported by СNN.

What is known about the new planet

TOI 700 e was discovered using NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite or TESS mission.

It is only 5% smaller than the Earth. Scientists believe that the planet has a rocky surface and, given the distance from the star M TOI 700, it may even have water in a liquid state. Dwarf stars like M TOI 700 are common in space. In recent years, exoplanets have been spotted near them.

It is worth noting that TOI 700 e is the fourth planet discovered in the orbit of the dwarf star M TOI 700.

In 2020, the planet TOI 700 d was discovered, which is also very similar to Earth. Scientists say that, according to all the evidence, both planets could have been habitable at some point.

"This makes the TOI 700 system an exciting prospect for additional observations. Planet e is about 10% smaller than planet d. TESS observations are helping us find smaller and smaller worlds," said lead author Emily Gilbert, a postdoctoral researcher at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.

The planet TOI 700 b is 90% the size of Earth and makes one rapid revolution around the star every 10 Earth days.

There is also a planet TOI 700 c. With a size 2.5 times that of the Earth, it makes one revolution around the star every 16 days.

Two exoplanets with code names d and e are located at a greater distance from the star. They have longer orbits of 37 and 28 days.

It is between planets c and d that the newly discovered celestial body is located.

The TESS mission was launched in 2018 to observe large areas of the night sky and track changes in the luminosity of the brightest stars. Scientists are confident that there are exciting new discoveries ahead that may even change our understanding of the Universe.

Earlier, OBOZREVATEL reported that the UK launched a spacecraft for the first time in history.

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