Posted on 04/28/2019 3:34:51 AM PDT by vannrox
Launched in 2018, TESS is NASAs new space-based exoplanet hunter. Now its found its 1st Earth-sized world orbiting a nearby star. The discovery bodes well, scientists say, for finding more similar worlds in the near future.
NASAs newest exoplanet-hunting telescope, the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), has now found its first Earth-sized world. Its the smallest planet TESS has found yet in its still-young mission. Astronomers say its another exciting step towards finding worlds beyond our solar system that might be capable of supporting life.
The new peer-reviewed finding was published in Astrophysical Journal Letters on April 16, 2019, by astronomers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Carnegie Institution for Science.
The planet labeled HD 21749c orbits the star HD 21749, about 52 light-years from Earth. That is quite close, and its the kind of planet TESS was designed to help find. NASAs last exoplanet-hunter Kepler Space Telescope, which finished its mission last year also found many smaller rocky planets of the type that most likely could be habitable. But, in contrast to TESS, Kepler focused
(Excerpt) Read more at earthsky.org ...
Heads up
"Shhh! I'm hunting exopwanets."
This particular planet, however, is probably not too friendly for life. It orbits very close to its star, completing an orbit in only 7.8 days. Its estimated surface temperature is 800 degrees Fahrenheit (427 degrees Celsius).
...
Forget about it.
Thanks vannrox and Larry Lucido.
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