Earth-Sized Planet Found in Habitable Zone 150 Light-Years Away

Scientists just found something extraordinary hiding in old telescope data: an Earth-sized planet that might be capable of supporting life.

Researchers at Australia's University of Southern Queensland discovered the planet candidate, called HD 137010 b, about 150 light-years from Earth. The team found it while analyzing data from NASA's retired Kepler Space Telescope, proving that missions can keep delivering discoveries years after they end.

The planet orbits a Sun-like star and measures just six percent larger than Earth. That makes it strikingly similar to our home planet in ways scientists have been hoping to find for three decades.

What makes this discovery truly special is location. HD 137010 b sits in what astronomers call the habitable zone, the perfect distance from its star where water could exist in liquid form on the surface.

If confirmed with additional observations, it would become the only known rocky world in the habitable zone of a Sun-like star. Every other potentially habitable exoplanet discovered so far orbits a different type of star.

Lead researcher Alex Venner puts the odds at 50 percent that the planet could actually support life. "This planet candidate is really at the limits of what we think might be possible in terms of potential habitability," he explained.

The planet earned its nickname "where Earth meets Mars" because of its unique position. While similar to Earth in size, scientists believe it could be even colder than Mars, which stays frozen year-round.

Why This Inspires

This discovery shows how persistence pays off in science. The Kepler telescope stopped operating in 2018, but its treasure trove of data continues revealing cosmic secrets.

Researcher Chelsea Huang called it a "really exciting" find. "Since the discovery of the first exoplanet 30 years ago, we've always tried to find Earth's twin," she said.

The team published their findings in the Astrophysical Journal Letters, though they're calling it a "planet candidate" until they can make at least one more confirming observation. They still need to study its mass and atmospheric conditions more closely.

But the implications are already clear. In our search for life beyond Earth, we just found one of the most promising places to look.

After three decades of searching among thousands of discovered exoplanets, we may have finally found a world that reminds us of home.