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In August 2022, scientists at the University of Montreal discovered the exoplanet TOI-1452 b, which of all existing exoplanets is the most similar to Earth and is relatively close to us – 100 light years away.
What’s going on
- Scientists have classified TOI-1452 b as a super-Earth because it is 70% larger than Earth. Super-Earths are a class of planets whose mass is greater than that of the Earth, but less than that of the gas giants.
- The planet is located in the constellation Draco and revolves around a red dwarf – stars smaller and dimmer than the Sun.
- TOI-1452 b orbits its star every 11 days and receives about the same amount of solar radiation as Venus.
- Scientists suggest that TOI-1452 b is a water world. According to calculations, water can make up about 22% of the mass of this planet. For comparison, the Earth’s figure is only 0,022%. If the calculations are correct, then the entire surface of TOI-1452 b could be covered by an ocean much deeper than on Earth.
- Preliminary chemical analysis indicates the possible presence of elements such as hydrogen and helium, as well as water vapor, on the planet.
What does it mean
All planets outside the solar system are called exoplanets. Over the past 30 years, more than 4 thousand exoplanets have been discovered. Their size, composition and surface are studied using powerful telescopes. Basically, the discovered planets consist of the same elements as the planets of the solar system, the combination and ratio of chemical elements differ. However, no planet is identical to Earth or any other object in the solar system.
There are several types of exoplanets: gas giants, Neptunian exoplanets, terrestrial planets, and super-Earths. The most famous super-Earths are Barnard’s Star b and GJ 15 A b. The first is located at a distance of six light years, and is 3,2 times larger than the Earth. GJ 15 A b is located 11 light years from Earth. Among the known gas giants, 51 Pegasi b and KELT-9 b are distinguished. In August 2022, the James Webb Space Telescope detected carbon dioxide on the gas giant WASP-39 b, which is located at a distance of 700 light-years from Earth. This is the first time that CO₂ has been recorded outside the solar system.
Scientists are looking for and studying exoplanets to better understand how the solar system formed, whether there are groups of planets similar to it in the universe, and whether there is a planet similar to Earth and suitable for colonization.