Astronomers have recently spotted one of the nearest known multi-planet systems discovered within our galactic neighborhood. The system is nearly 10 parsecs or 33 light-years from Earth and was observed by NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS).
Adding to it, the astronomer saw a star named HD 260655 at the center of the system, and it was found to be hosting at least two Earth-like terrestrial planets.
Kunimoto saw a set of periodic dips from the HD 260655 star in the starlight. She then utilized the mission’s science inquiry pipeline to assess the signals, and they were quickly classified as TESS Objects of Interest (TOI) or potential planets.
Kunimoto realized that the HD 260655 star had been identified by the High-Resolution Echelle Spectrometer (HIRES). It is an instrument regulated in Hawaii as part of the Keck Observatory. In addition, the exact star was also listed in an autonomous survey by CARMENES, which is regulated as a portion of Spain’s Calar Alto Observatory.
“Both planets in this system are each considered among the best targets for atmospheric study because of the brightness of their star,” announced Kunimoto
Evaluating the density of the two planets, the team inferred that they are terrestrial or rocky like Earth. Yet, the planets are questionably livable due to their elevated temperature. “We consider that range outside the habitable zone, too hot for liquid water to exist on the surface,” Kunimoto added.