Astronomers discover two Earth-sized planets 42 light-years away
An international team of astronomers has discovered two Earth-sized planets orbiting a star located about 42 light-years from Earth. The star, HD 101581, is an orange dwarf of type K5V, and the planets, named HD 101581 b and HD 101581 c, were identified using NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS).
The planets are nearly the size of Earth, with radii of 0.956 and 0.990 times Earth’s radius, respectively. They orbit close to their star, completing orbits in 4.47 and 6.21 days. However, their proximity to the star makes them uninhabitable due to intense stellar radiation and high temperatures.
Scientists believe a potential third planet, HD 101581 d, may exist in the system, though further confirmation is needed. This discovery highlights the importance of exoplanet studies in understanding planetary systems and their evolution.
Upcoming data from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is expected to advance research on atmospheres and compositions of such worlds, bringing us closer to identifying planets with conditions suitable for life.
