NASA’s TESS Locates Another Earth-Sized World
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NASA’s TESS Locates Another Earth-Sized World

NASA’s TESS Locates Another Earth- TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite) is a NASA mission that searches for exoplanets (planets outside our solar system) by monitoring the brightness of stars.

NASA’s TESS Locates Another Earth

Table of Contents

Introduction

TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite) recently discovered an exoplanet that is about the same size as Earth and located within the habitable zone of its star, which is the region where the temperature is suitable for liquid water to exist on the surface. The exoplanet is located just over 100 light-years away from Earth. This is an exciting discovery as it increases the possibility of finding other potentially habitable exoplanets in the future.

What is NASA’s TESS?

NASA’s TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite) is a space telescope that is designed to search for exoplanets (planets outside our solar system) by monitoring the brightness of stars.

It uses the transit method to detect exoplanets, which involves measuring the tiny dips in a star’s brightness caused when a planet passes in front of the star (transits) from the perspective of the telescope. By measuring these dips, TESS is able to determine the size, orbit, and orbital period of exoplanets.

TESS was launched in April 2018 and is currently in operation, surveying the entire sky to search for exoplanets around the closest and brightest stars. It is able to observe stars up to 300 light-years away and is expected to find thousands of exoplanets, including several that are potentially habitable.

TESS is also able to measure the radius of the exoplanets and its orbital period, which can be used to determine their density and mass, and then determine its composition.

The data collected by TESS is made available to the public through the Mikulski Archive for Space Telescopes (MAST) and is used by scientists around the world to study exoplanets and their potential to host life.

TESS is also expected to be a valuable resource for the upcoming James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), which will be able to study the atmospheres of exoplanets in more detail to search for signs of life.

TOI-700 d

The exoplanet, named TOI-700 d, orbits a red dwarf star that is about 40% the size of our sun. Red dwarf stars are smaller and cooler than our sun, and are the most common type of star in the universe. The habitable zone around a red dwarf star is much closer to the star than it is around a larger, hotter star like our sun. This means that exoplanets in the habitable zone around a red dwarf are likely to be much closer to their star than Earth is to the sun.

TOI-700 d is located within the habitable zone of its star and is about 20% larger than Earth. It completes one orbit around its star every 37 days. The surface temperature on TOI-700 d is estimated to be between -62 to 8 degrees Fahrenheit (-52 to -13 degrees Celsius) making it potentially habitable for life as we know it. However, more research is needed to confirm its habitability and whether it has an atmosphere or liquid water.

The discovery of TOI-700 d is significant as it is one of the closest known exoplanets in the habitable zone of a red dwarf star. This means that future observations of the planet will be possible with current and planned telescopes, including the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) which is set to launch in 2021. The JWST will be able to observe the planet’s atmosphere and determine if it has biosignatures, such as oxygen and methane, which would be strong indicators of the presence of life.

In conclusion, the discovery of TOI-700 d is an exciting new development in the search for potentially habitable exoplanets. It is one of the closest known exoplanets in the habitable zone of a red dwarf star, and future observations with telescopes like the JWST will provide more information about the planet’s habitability and the potential of finding life on it.

TOI 700 e

TOI-700 e is another exoplanet that was discovered in the same system as TOI-700 d by the NASA’s TESS mission. It orbits the same red dwarf star as TOI-700 d and completes one orbit every 8.2 days. TOI-700 e is about 30% larger than Earth, and its surface temperature is estimated to be between -22 to -4 degree Fahrenheit (-30 to -20 degrees Celsius).

Like TOI-700 d, TOI-700 e’s location within the habitable zone of its star and its size make it a potential candidate for habitability. However, its close proximity to the star and the resulting high surface temperature make it less likely to be habitable than TOI-700 d.

It’s worth noting that both planets are relatively close to the star and are likely tidally locked, meaning that one side of the planet is always facing the star, while the other side is in permanent darkness. This could have an effect on their potential habitability.

Overall, the discovery of the two exoplanets in the same system is an exciting development in the search for potentially habitable worlds. Further observations and study of these planets could provide valuable information about their composition, atmosphere, and potential for hosting life.

TOI 700 b

TOI-700 b is another exoplanet that was discovered in the same system as TOI-700 d and e by the NASA’s TESS mission. It orbits the same red dwarf star as the other two planets, and completes one orbit every 10.1 days. TOI-700 b is about 66% larger than Earth, making it a Super-Earth.

However, it orbits the star at a distance that places it outside the habitable zone, and the surface temperature is estimated to be around -22 to -4 degree Fahrenheit (-30 to -20 degrees Celsius). This means that the planet is unlikely to be habitable for life as we know it and is likely to be a gas giant.

The discovery of three exoplanets in the same system is an exciting development as it increases the chances of finding other potentially habitable exoplanets in the future. Further observations and study of these planets and their system could provide valuable information about their composition, atmosphere, and potential for hosting life.

Conclusion

In conclusion, NASA’s TESS mission has discovered three exoplanets in the same system, named TOI-700b, d and e. TOI-700b is a Super-Earth located outside of the habitable zone and is unlikely to be habitable for life as we know it.

TOI-700d and e are both located within the habitable zone of the star and are considered as good candidates for habitability, however, TOI-700d is considered to be a better candidate due to its surface temperature being more favorable and it is closer to Earth.

The discovery of these exoplanets is an exciting development in the search for potentially habitable exoplanets and further observations and study of these planets and their system could provide valuable information about their composition, atmosphere, and potential for hosting life.

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