NASA's Exoplanet Satellite Finds New Super Earth In Habitable Zone

Illustration of the TOI-715 b exoplanet (photo: dock. NASA)

JAKARTA The United States Aeronautics and Space Agency (NASA) has discovered a new exoplanet named TOI-715 b using the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS).

TOI-715 b is classified as a Super Earth, an exoplanet with a larger mass than Earth, but not as big as Uranus and Neptune. Based on TESS findings, the planet is about 137 light-years away from Earth.

From the results of research by astronomers, this Super Earth orbits a red dwarf star. However, the star orbited by TOI-715 b is much smaller and cooler than the Sun, so it is suspected that the planet is in a habitable zone.

This planet orbits much closer than planets around stars like our Sun. However, because red dwarfs are smaller and cooler, the planet can gather closer and remain safe in the habitable zone," NASA said.

The habitable zone is an area around the star that supports the availability of water in liquid form. Although TOI-715 b is categorized as a planet in the habitable zone, NASA still has to observe the planet closely.

NASA plans to use the James Webb Space Telescope to determine signs of the planet's atmosphere. By observing its atmosphere, astronomers can find out how massive the planet is and whether it is classified as water.

"The Atmosphere, if any, will stand out more and be much easier to detect than planets that are more massive, closer, and drier," NASA explained.

With the discovery of TOI-715 b, the number of exoplanets categorized as habitable zones has also increased. So far, there are about 300 million planets that have the potential to be habitable, but the majority of the planets have not been identified.