An Earth-sized exoplanet has been discovered near the solar system

The hunt for exoplanets allows astronomers and scientists to discover new worlds that are different from Earth and located nearby. Indeed, although the universe is vast, even infinite, some exoplanets are located not far from our solar system, such as TOI-4616 b, an Earth-like exoplanet.

Discovered by NASA’s TESS satellite, it orbits a red dwarf named TOI-4616, located about 91.8 light-years away. After discovering this star, astronomers conducted various studies to determine its size, mass, and composition.

This is how they discovered that this exoplanet has a radius about 1.22 times that of Earth and a mass between 1.5 and 3 times that of Earth. In addition, they believe it is a rocky exoplanet and that its atmosphere is still partially intact. Consequently, studies using the James Webb Space Telescope could be conducted to determine the composition of its atmosphere and better understand it.

As for its host star, it is very different from the Sun. Indeed, it is between 300 and 800 million years old, and it is a red dwarf. Furthermore, its mass represents only 19% that of the Sun. Nevertheless, this discovery does not solve a major mystery. Indeed, we do not know if we are alone in the universe or if extraterrestrial life exists elsewhere. But as discoveries continue, such as these 45 exoplanets, this mystery may well be solved, and that could change our understanding of the universe.