Astronomers using data from NASA’s TESS have identified a habitable zone planet orbiting the red dwarf star TOI-715. Additionally, there is a smaller exoplanet candidate detected in the system.
Characteristics of TOI-715:
- Star Type: M dwarf (spectral type M4)
- Distance: Approximately 137 light-years away
- Constellation: Volans
- Age: Around 6.6 billion years
Identified Exoplanets:
- TOI-715b:
- Characteristics: Super-Earth, approximately 1.5 times wider than Earth
- Orbit: Inside the habitable zone of TOI-715, with a period of 19.3 days
- TOI-715c:
- Characteristics: Terrestrial exoplanet candidate, possibly slightly larger than Earth
- Orbit: Just inside the conservative habitable zone, with a period of 25.6 days
Significance of the Discovery:
- First TESS Discovery in Conservative Habitable Zone: This marks the first discovery by TESS within the conservative habitable zone, which is a narrower and potentially more robust definition than the optimistic habitable zone.
- Potential for Further Investigation: TOI-715b presents an opportunity for closer scrutiny, possibly even for signs of an atmosphere, particularly due to its placement in the habitable zone.
Future Prospects:
- Webb Telescope Observations: The James Webb Space Telescope could potentially study TOI-715b further, particularly for signs of an atmosphere.
- Confirmation of Second Exoplanet: Confirmation of the Earth-sized exoplanet candidate would make it the smallest habitable-zone planet discovered by TESS to date.
Source:
The discovery is reported in a paper published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs):
- What is the main method used to detect the habitable zone planet around TOI-715?
- A) Hubble Space Telescope observations
- B) Radio telescope observations
- C) Data from NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS)
- D) Ground-based telescope observations
- How far away is TOI-715 located from Earth?
- A) Approximately 137 million light-years
- B) Approximately 137 light-years
- C) Approximately 137 parsecs
- D) Approximately 137 astronomical units
- What is the age of TOI-715?
- A) Around 4.6 billion years
- B) Around 6.6 billion years
- C) Around 2.6 billion years
- D) Around 8.6 billion years
- Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of TOI-715b?
- A) Super-Earth
- B) Orbiting outside the habitable zone
- C) Approximately 1.5 times wider than Earth
- D) Orbiting with a period of 19.3 days
- Where is TOI-715c located in relation to the habitable zone?
- A) Just outside the conservative habitable zone
- B) Deep within the optimistic habitable zone
- C) Just inside the conservative habitable zone
- D) In the outermost region of the optimistic habitable zone