TESS Finds First Nearby Super-Earth (and it may be Habitable)
The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) has found its first super-Earth near our solar system. This world, GJ 357 d, also orbits within the habitable zone of the star, where temperatures are neither too hot, nor too cold, for water to pool on its surface, potentially filling oceans.
The star around which this world (and at least two others) orbit, GJ 357, is an M-type star, one-third the size and mass of our Sun, and 40 percent cooler. This system is found just 31 light years from Earth, in the direction of the constellation Hydra.
“This is exciting, as this is humanity’s first nearby super-Earth that could harbor life — uncovered with help from TESS, our small, mighty mission with a huge reach,” Lisa Kaltenegger, director of the Carl Sagan Institute at Cornell University stated.
Astronomers utilizing NASA’s TESS space observatory noticed periodic dimming in light coming from GJ 357. The effect, first seen in February 2019, repeated once every 3.9 days. This finding led to the discovery of three worlds, the outer most of which which may be habitable.
“In a way, these planets were hiding in measurements made at numerous observatories over many years. It took TESS to point us to an interesting star where we could uncover them,” said Rafael Luque, a doctoral…
