Discovery 1: TOI-700d
When was the discovery made?
The discovery of TOI-700d was made in January 2020.
Who made the discovery?
The discovery was made by the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), a mission led by NASA.
What interesting facts do scientists know about the exoplanet?
TOI-700d is an exoplanet located in the habitable zone of its star. It is about 100 light-years away from Earth and is believed to be around 2.1 times larger than Earth. Scientists estimate that it could have a surface temperature similar to that of Earth, making it a possible candidate for supporting life.
Why am I interested in this particular discovery?
I am interested in this discovery because it is one of the closest exoplanets that could potentially support life. It is exciting to think that there could be a habitable planet relatively close to us, and it highlights the importance of continuing to search for exoplanets that could support life.
Discovery 2: LHS 3844b
When was the discovery made?
The discovery of LHS 3844b was made in September 2018.
Who made the discovery?
The discovery was made by scientists at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics using data from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope.
What interesting facts do scientists know about the exoplanet?
LHS 3844b is an exoplanet that is about 48.6 light-years away from Earth. It is a rocky planet that is about 1.3 times the size of Earth and orbits very close to its star. In fact, it completes an orbit in just 11 hours. Because of its close proximity to its star, the exoplanet is tidally locked, meaning that one side always faces the star while the other side is always in darkness.
Why am I interested in this particular discovery?
I am interested in this discovery because it highlights the diversity of exoplanets that are out there. The fact that this exoplanet is so close to its star and completes an orbit in such a short amount of time is fascinating. It is also interesting to think about what the conditions might be like on a planet that is tidally locked.
Discovery 3: K2-18b
When was the discovery made?
The discovery of K2-18b was made in September 2019.
Who made the discovery?
The discovery was made by an international team of researchers led by the University of Montreal.
What interesting facts do scientists know about the exoplanet?
K2-18b is an exoplanet located about 124 light-years away from Earth. It is a super-Earth that is about 2.3 times the size of Earth and is located in the habitable zone of its star. In 2019, scientists announced that they had detected water vapor in the exoplanet's atmosphere, making it the first exoplanet known to have both water and temperatures that could potentially support life.
Why am I interested in this particular discovery?
I am interested in this discovery because the discovery of water vapor on an exoplanet is a significant milestone in the search for extraterrestrial life. It shows that the conditions for life as we know it are not unique to Earth and that there could be other habitable planets out there. The discovery of K2-18b also highlights the importance of continuing to study exoplanet atmospheres in the search for life beyond our solar system.