• Latest
  • Trending
  • All
An artist's rendition of Kepler-186f, an Earth-like exoplanet that astronomers now believe has a stable axial tilt, giving it regular seasons and a comfortable climateNASA Ames/JPL-Caltech/T. Pyle

Two Earth-Like Planets Found Close to Home – Are They Habitable?

December 25, 2024
This concept shows an Earth-like world with clouds and liquid surface water orbiting a red dwarf star. Credit: Lynette Cook

New Research Reveals Clouds Can Amplify Signs of Life on Exoplanets

May 29, 2025
PSR B1509−58 – X-rays from Chandra are gold; infrared from WISE in red, green and blue/max (Credit : By NASA/CXC/SAO (X-Ray); NASA/JPL-Caltech (Infrared))

Confirmed: Stars Can Orbit Inside Each Other—And This One Did

May 28, 2025
ADVERTISEMENT
Credit: NGC 1754. Credit: HST.

NGC 1754: Hubble Reveals Secrets of One of the Universe’s Oldest Star Clusters

May 27, 2025
An artist's illustration of the planet K2-18b, one of the prime suspects to host life beyond this solar system.

Hope or Hype? The Truth About Life Signals on Distant Planet K2-18b

May 26, 2025
Supermassive black holes at the centers of galaxies emit radiation and ultra-fast winds into space. Here is an artist's visualization. Credit: NASA, JPL-Caltech

Black Hole Winds May Be Firing the Universe’s Most Powerful Particles

May 24, 2025
March Solar X-flare from IRIS and SDO

The Next Solar Superstorm Could Be Days Away—Are We Ready to Respond?

May 22, 2025
Artist's conception of a "Hot Jupiter", like Puli. Credit - ESO/L. Calçada.

The Planet That Hides in Time: How Astronomers Caught a Cosmic Phantom

May 21, 2025
An illustration of Jupiter with magnetic field lines emitting from its poles. Credit: Credit: K. Batygin

Scientists Just Found Evidence of a Supercharged Jupiter You’ve Never Met

May 20, 2025
This NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope image features a cloudscape in the Large Magellanic Cloud., a dwarf satellite galaxy of the Milky Way. Credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA, C. Murray

NASA Just Photographed a Galaxy That Looks Like Cotton Candy—and It’s Real

May 19, 2025
DESI has made the largest 3D map of our universe to date. Earth is at the center of this thin slice of the full map. Credit: Claire Lamman/DESI collaboration

Is the Universe Expanding Weirdly Because Dark Matter Is Evolving?

May 19, 2025
ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti took this picture of aurora borealis from the ISS on Dec. 9, 2014

Auroras on Mars? Yes, and Astronauts Might See Them Too

May 18, 2025
This illustration depicts a conceptual Lunar Crater Radio Telescope on the Moon’s far side. The early-stage concept is being studied under grant funding from the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts program but is not a NASA mission. Credit: Vladimir Vustyansky

Dark Ages Explorer: How Europe Plans to Illuminate the Universe’s Oldest Secrets

May 17, 2025
ADVERTISEMENT
NASA Space News
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Privacy Policy
  • ABOUT US
  • DISCLAIMER
  • Contact Us
NASA Space News
No Result
View All Result
ADVERTISEMENT
Home Astronomy

Two Earth-Like Planets Found Close to Home – Are They Habitable?

by nasaspacenews
December 25, 2024
in Astronomy, Earth, Exoplanets, News, Others
0
An artist's rendition of Kepler-186f, an Earth-like exoplanet that astronomers now believe has a stable axial tilt, giving it regular seasons and a comfortable climateNASA Ames/JPL-Caltech/T. Pyle

NASA Ames/JPL-Caltech/T. Pyle

ADVERTISEMENT
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter


Astronomers have unveiled a groundbreaking discovery in the search for alien worlds, as NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) has confirmed two Earth-sized planets orbiting a nearby star known as HD 101581.

A Remarkable Discovery: HD 101581 b and c

Two exoplanets, designated HD 101581 b and HD 101581 c, were detected orbiting a nearby star using data from TESS, followed by ground-based observations. These planets are slightly smaller than Earth, making them unique additions to the growing catalog of exoplanets.

HD 101581 b, the closer of the two planets, has a radius of 0.956 Earth radii and completes an orbit around its star in just 4.47 days. Its calculated equilibrium temperature is a scorching 834 K (561°C), indicating its close proximity to the star. HD 101581 c, slightly larger at 0.99 Earth radii, has a longer orbital period of 6.21 days and an equilibrium temperature of 747 K (474°C).

These findings suggest that both planets are far too hot to host life as we know it. Evidence for a potential third planet, which would have a radius of about 0.98 Earth radii and an orbital period of 7.87 days, adds another layer of intrigue to this system. If confirmed, this would position HD 101581 as a host to multiple Earth-sized worlds, a rare occurrence among known planetary systems.

The Host Star: HD 101581

At the heart of this discovery is HD 101581, a K-dwarf star located just 41.7 light-years away from Earth. This star, with a radius of 0.63 times that of the Sun and a mass of approximately 0.74 solar masses, represents an ideal target for exoplanetary studies.

Its brightness and proximity enable precise observations of its planets’ transit signals. HD 101581’s age, estimated at 7 billion years, combined with its cooler temperature of 4,634 K, suggests a stable environment where planetary systems can form and evolve. The discovery of multiple Earth-sized planets around such a star provides valuable insights into the dynamics and formation processes of compact planetary systems.

The Science Behind the Discovery

The detection of HD 101581 b and c was made possible through the combined efforts of TESS and ground-based telescopes. TESS, launched in 2018, surveys the brightest stars near the Sun to detect dips in their brightness caused by planets transiting across their surfaces. For HD 101581, these transit signals were identified in data from TESS sectors 63 and 64.

Follow-Up Observations
Ground-based telescopes were used to confirm the planetary nature of the transit signals. These observations provided critical data on the planets’ masses, radii, and orbital periods. Together, these findings paint a detailed picture of the HD 101581 system.

Advanced Techniques
State-of-the-art techniques, such as light curve analysis, allowed astronomers to detect the subtle signals of these small planets. This achievement highlights the growing precision of exoplanet detection methods and their ability to uncover worlds that were previously beyond our reach.

Future Directions in Exoplanet Research

The HD 101581 system opens the door to exciting possibilities for future research. Scientists are eager to explore these planets in greater detail, particularly their atmospheres and compositions.

1. Atmospheric Studies with JWST
The James Webb Space Telescope could be used to search for atmospheric signatures on these planets. By analyzing their spectra during transits, astronomers can identify gases and other compounds in their atmospheres, providing clues about their formation and evolution.

2. Confirmation of the Third Planet
The suspected third planet in the system, if confirmed, would further enhance the significance of this discovery. Understanding its properties could reveal new insights into the architecture of compact planetary systems.

ADVERTISEMENT

3. Broader Implications
Studying HD 101581 and its planets contributes to the larger effort to map the diversity of planetary systems in our galaxy. Comparing these findings with other systems could reveal patterns and anomalies that deepen our understanding of planetary formation.

What We Learn from HD 101581

This discovery reinforces the idea that planetary systems can take on a wide variety of forms. While HD 101581’s planets are unlikely to host life, they provide valuable data about the range of conditions under which planets can form and persist.

By studying these extreme environments, scientists can refine their models and predictions for other planetary systems, including those that may harbor life. Moreover, the proximity and brightness of HD 101581 make it an invaluable target for continued study. As telescopes become more powerful, our ability to analyze such systems will only improve, leading to new breakthroughs and discoveries.

Conclusion

The discovery of two Earth-sized exoplanets orbiting HD 101581 represents a major milestone in exoplanet research. These planets, among the smallest yet found around a nearby star, offer a unique opportunity to study the dynamics and characteristics of compact planetary systems.

Reference:

Michelle Kunimoto et al, Two Earth-size Planets and an Earth-size Candidate Transiting the Nearby Star HD 101581, arXiv (2024).

Tags: alien worldsastronomy newsEarth-sized planetsExoplanet DiscoveryExoplanetshabitable planetshabitable zoneHD 101581life beyond EarthNASA TESSnearby solar systemsnearby starplanet detectionplanetary orbitsPlanetary Sciencesmall planetsspace discoveriesspace explorationstar HD 101581TESS discovery

Recent News

This concept shows an Earth-like world with clouds and liquid surface water orbiting a red dwarf star. Credit: Lynette Cook

New Research Reveals Clouds Can Amplify Signs of Life on Exoplanets

May 29, 2025
PSR B1509−58 – X-rays from Chandra are gold; infrared from WISE in red, green and blue/max (Credit : By NASA/CXC/SAO (X-Ray); NASA/JPL-Caltech (Infrared))

Confirmed: Stars Can Orbit Inside Each Other—And This One Did

May 28, 2025

Category

  • Asteroid
  • Astrobiology
  • Astrology
  • Astronomy
  • Astrophotography
  • Astrophysics
  • Auroras
  • Black holes
  • Comets
  • Cosmology
  • Dark energy
  • Dark Matter
  • Earth
  • Euclid
  • Exoplanets
  • Galaxies
  • Jupiter
  • JWST
  • Mars
  • Mercury
  • Meteor showers
  • Moon
  • Neptune
  • News
  • Others
  • Planets
  • QuantumPhysics
  • quasars
  • Rocks
  • Saturn
  • solar storm
  • Solar System
  • stars
  • sun
  • Universe
  • Uranus
  • Venus
  • Voyager

We bring you the latest news and updates in space exploration, innovation, and astronomy.

  • ABOUT US
  • CONTACT US
  • DISCLAIMER
  • PRIVACY POLICY

© 2025 NASA Space News

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Privacy Policy
  • ABOUT US
  • DISCLAIMER
  • Contact Us

© 2025 NASA Space News

Welcome Back!

Sign In with Facebook
Sign In with Google
Sign In with Linked In
OR

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist