Scientists have found a new planet very similar to Earth and it can be a life

Last spring, the space agency NASA using rocket company SpaceX launched a new space telescope TESS. unit task is to search for potentially suitable planets outside the solar system (planets are called exoplanets), similar in its characteristics to the Earth, and located not far from us. By space standards, of course. An international team of astronomers, working with the product, announced the opening of a new telescope of the first Earth-like planets, which meets these requirements.

Where is a planet similar to Earth?

Discovered exoplanet, dubbed GJ 357d, located in the star GJ 357 system, which is in the constellation of Hydra, about 31 light-year from Earth. Recall that a light year in astronomy called the distance that light can pass for one Earth year - about 10 trillion kilometers. The planet was discovered by the so-called transit search technique. Scientists have observed the change in the level of luminosity of the star, who told researchers about the presence of the planet.

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Astronomers have discovered an exoplanet referred to the so-called class of super-Earths. This is the world that its size and weight exceed our Earth, but much inferior to those parameters gas giants. According to scientists its mass about six times that of the Earth. However, researchers say that it is not yet established the exact size and composition. If it will be rocky, that is, the same as our Earth, its size should be approximately two times larger than the Earth. Around its star planet completes one full rotation in 56 Earth days.

if possible existence of life on other planets?

According to the researchers discovered planet orbits a red dwarf star class. These stars are much smaller in size and mass than our sun, and much dimmer than our star. But it is precisely in these stars, believe scientists should look for life on other systems.

Star class - is not the only factor that increases the chances of the possible existence of life on the discovered world. The thing is that the exoplanet GJ 357d is also located in the so-called habitable zone of its star - space region, where not too hot and at the same time not too cold, so that the water on the surface of planets could be in liquid form. Scientists do not yet know whether there is a water planet discovered, but in the future it will help establish a more powerful telescopes that are going to launch in the near future.

According to scientists, the average temperature on the planet GJ 357d may be about -50 degrees Celsius. Conditions, almost like on Mars. How did life could exist there? As the results of recent studies, even in such cold planets may be suitable locations suitable for the survival of living organisms.

Scheme GJ planetary system 357

Astronomers report that GJ 357d - is not the only planet in its system. TESS Telescope also discovered two other exoplanets. The object, known as GJ 357b, about 22 percent larger than our Earth and is 11 times closer to its star than the planet Mercury is to the sun. Because of this, on the planet's surface temperature is estimated to scientists 254 degrees Celsius.

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Another system is the planet GJ 357s. It is from its star is approximately 2 times more GJ 357b. Scientists estimate that its surface temperature is 127 degrees. Such conditions on these two planets, of course, reject the possibility of the existence of life on them.

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