Close New Earth-Size World Discovered, Year Lasts Under 10 Days
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CAPE CANAVERAL (AP) – Astronomers have discovered a close new world about the size of Earth, where a year lasts just under 10 days.
At a distance of 11 light-years, Ross 128 b is the second-closest planet to be detected yet outside our solar system with surface temperatures potentially similar to ours.
ESO's #HARPS finds #Ross128b an Earth-sized world only 11 light-years away. (artist's impression) https://t.co/Qpc4XgsuZf pic.twitter.com/vkZzzFIXau
— ESO (@ESO) November 15, 2017
Ross 128 b is very near its star, thus the short orbit. But it doesn't get broiled because the red dwarf star is cool. The star is also quiet, meaning no radiation flare-ups. That's encouraging news for seekers of extraterrestrial life. The planet is believed to border the so-called habitable zone.
A team led by the University of Grenoble Alps' Xavier Bonfils made the discovery using La Silla Observatory in Chile. The findings were reported Wednesday.
NASA's exoplanet count stands at 3,550.
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