Astronomers have identified an exoplanet located about 146 light-years from Earth that, due to its physical and orbital characteristics, is considered one of the closest candidates to be a 'twin' of our planet. Its importance is exclusively scientific, as it allows for a better understanding of the formation and evolution of rocky planets similar to ours. Earth will remain, for now, the only known habitable world. Although estimates indicate the planet's surface temperature is around –70 degrees Celsius, specialists clarified that this value does not completely rule out the possibility of conditions compatible with life, as the scenario depends heavily on the composition and density of its atmosphere, an aspect that has not yet been confirmed. The exoplanet HD 137010 b has generated significant scientific interest due to the rare combination of several key factors. Its size is just 6% larger than Earth's, suggesting it is a rocky planet and not a gas giant, a fundamental condition in the search for worlds similar to our own. Another notable feature is its orbital period of approximately 355 days. This duration, very close to the Earth year, is unusual among known exoplanets and reinforces the comparison with Earth from a dynamic and astronomical point of view. However, the discovery of HD 137010 b reinforces the idea that the solar system is not a rarity and that, on a galactic scale, there could be many other planets with comparable traits. The research was published in the scientific journal The Astrophysical Journal Letters and is led by an international team of researchers. The planet orbits a K-type dwarf star, which is cooler and less luminous than the Sun. The 'New Earth,' an object designated HD 137010 b, has a size very similar to the one we know, an orbital period almost identical to the Earth year, and could have an atmosphere capable of modifying its extreme conditions. According to Noticias Argentinas agency, the discovery was made from the re-analysis of historical data from the Kepler space telescope, particularly its second mission, known as K2. A carbon dioxide-rich atmosphere could generate a sufficient greenhouse effect to raise the surface temperature and allow for the presence of liquid water. In the absence of such a scenario, the researchers noted that the planet could be a completely ice-covered world, with potential liquid oceans under layers of ice, a type of environment that is also of interest to astrobiology. Despite the striking nature of the discovery, specialists clarified that the planet HD 137010 b cannot be observed from Earth, either with the naked eye or with amateur telescopes. Its enormous distance and extremely faint brightness mean it can only be detected using high-precision scientific instruments. In Argentina, its study is limited to astronomical observatories and research centers that participate in the analysis of space data, with no visible impact on the population. NASA emphasized that the planet does not represent any observable phenomenon or risk to Earth. These characteristics make it one of the most Earth-like worlds detected so far around a Sun-like star. Scientists explained that the so-called habitable zone is the region around a star where, under certain conditions, liquid water could exist on a planet's surface. In the case of HD 137010 b, models indicate a 40% to 50% probability that it lies within that band, depending on whether conservative or optimistic criteria are used. The possibility of habitability depends heavily on the planet's atmosphere.
