12 Jan 2020

NASA's TESS Discovered New SUPER EARTH (Planet GJ357d of Star GJ357)

A Group of astronomers using NASA's satellite, named as- transiting exoplanet survey satellite have discovered a star GJ 357, which is present in the Hydra constellation. This star is nearly 31 light years away from the Earth.
Researchers have found a planet orbiting this star in the outer limits of the star's habitable zone. The name of the planet that has the potential to support life is- GJ357d. The planet gets the same amount of energy that is received by the planet Mars from the Sun, in our solar system.
The study's co-author, Diana kossakowski said- "if the planet has a dense atmosphere, which will take future studies to determine, it could trap enough heat to warm the planet and allow liquid water on its surface."
According to Lisa Kaltenegger, one of the study's co-authors,
"This is exciting, as this is humanity's first nearby super- Earth that could harbor life- uncovered with the help from TESS, our small, mighty mission with a huge reach."

Super Earth by NASA TESS Video


 

It is estimated that, the planet has a mass 6.1 times that of the earth and orbits its star GJ 357, in every 55.7 days.
The planet GJ 357 d has an equilibrium temperature of minus 64 degrees, assuming, there is no atmosphere there.
However it is not clear, what GJ 357 d is comprised of and what is its real size. If it were rocky, It is estimated that the size of the planet would likely be between, one and two times the size of the earth.
Scientists have also discovered two other planets of this star GJ357. Names of these planets are GJ357b and GJ357c. Here it is worth mentioning, that the exoplanet GJ357b is described as a "hot Earth" as its surface temperature is nearly 490 degrees Celsius. In the same way, the planet GJ 357c, has a surface temperature that may approach upto 260 degrees Celsius. So both of these planets are unlikely to support life.
So let's hope for the possibility of alien life on the Super earth planet GJ357d. 


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