- LATEST
- WEBSTORY
- TRENDING
SCIENCE
Scientists discover ‘Super Earth’ just 37 light years away: Exciting find in search of alien life
The newfound planet which is four times bigger than our Earth has excited scientists in search of life on other planets beyond ours.
Updated : Aug 10, 2022, 10:41 AM IST
 "Super Earth Ross 508b")
TRENDING NOW
)
Sudhanshu Pandey makes big statement on Anupamaa co-actor Rupali Ganguly's stepdaughter allegations: 'It's not good...'
)
Shweta Tiwari's wedding photos with Bigg Boss 13 contestant Vishal Aditya Singh go viral, here's the truth behind them
)
This Pakistani Influencer's private video leaked online, days after Minahil Malik and Insha Rehman's clips
)
No mention of Aaradhya Bachchan in Amitabh Bachchan's post on birthdays, it happened recently
)
Amitabh Bachchan opens up on Aishwarya Rai-Abhishek Bachchan divorce rumours
)
Meet richest footballer of 2024, not Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, his net worth is...
)
Gautam Adani's BIG Rs 16877 crore plan to take on Mukesh Ambani, set to build Mumbai's largest...
)
'Good to be back': After breaking up with Malaika Arora, Arjun Kapoor reunites with his 'partner-in-crime after ages'
)
Amid divorce rumours with Aishwarya Rai, Abhishek Bachchan tells Amitabh Bachchan: 'I hope people don't...'
)
Amitabh Bachchan praises Abhishek Bachchan's new film, netizens ask 'kash ye Aishwarya...'
)
Virat Kohli's tweet mistaken for 'divorce announcement' from Anushka Sharma, fans compare to AR Rahman's separation post
)
Amid divorce rumours with Aishwarya Rai, Abhishek Bachchan says he'll do 'whatever it takes' to be there for Aaradhya
)
Samantha Ruth Prabhu shares inspirational poem ahead of Naga Chaitanya, Sobhita Dhulipala wedding: 'Force your heart...'
)
Model's bold dance in towel at India Gate raises eyebrows, netizens say arrest her, watch viral video
)
AR Rahman, Saira Banu to separate 29 years after marriage due to 'significant emotional strain': 'Couple has found...'
Another exciting discovery in the search for answers about life has been made by scientists. In its first discovery by a new instrument, Japan’s Subaru Telescope spotted the ‘Super Earth’ skimming the habitable zone of a red dwarf star at a distance of just 37 light-years from the Earth. In astronomical distances, you could call that is really, really close!
The newfound planet which is four times bigger than our Earth gives the opportunity to search for the possibility of life on other planets apart from ours. The find is also significant because the infrared observational instrument opens the possibilities of discovering more such planets around red dwarf stars, which are typically difficult to study as they don’t emit much visible light compared to stars like our Sun.
Bonus: Check out NASA's simulation of Ross 508b and comparison with Earth here.
Does the ‘Super Earth’ harbour life?
Named Ross 508b behind the red dwarf star Ross 508 which it orbits, the planet has 4X the mass of Earth. It is just 37 light years away from us, located in the Serpens constellation. Interestingly, compared to our 365 day year, one year on Ross 508b equals just 11 Earth-days.
Discovery Alert!
— NASA Exoplanets (@NASAExoplanets) August 3, 2022
A recently discovered exoplanet skims in and out of its star's habitable zone. It's 37 light-years from Earth and about four times our planet's mass, making Ross 508b a super-Earth. A year there, one orbit, takes just 10.8 days! https://t.co/qmEDhIuS3A pic.twitter.com/MW7Cap45If
The planet is located at the inner edge of the habitable zone surrounding the Ross 508 star. The observations suggest that the orbit of this Super Earth is elliptical, which may make it lie in habitable zone at times. This means it can have the required conditions for water to exist on the planet’s surface in liquid state. Further study will only be able to suggest more about the possibility of life or existence of water on the planet.
READ | Meet Nallathamby Kalaiselvi, the first woman to lead India's top scientific body CSIR
