Citizen Scientist Uncovers Earth-Like Exoplanet

Quick Smiles:

• PhD student Alexander Venner discovers an Earth-like exoplanet using Kepler’s data.
• HD 137010b lies in the habitable zone of its star, marking it as a compelling study target.
• Top telescopes are set to investigate this promising planet further.

Thanks to the persistence of Alexander Venner, a PhD student at the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy, a fascinating new exoplanet, HD 137010b, was uncovered in old Kepler telescope data. Hand-sifting through vast datasets that sophisticated algorithms had missed, Venner found evidence of this rocky world orbiting a K-dwarf star just 146 light years away.

“It was completely missed,” Mr. Venner told Science Magazine about his discovery, presented at the Rocky Worlds conference in Groningen. “The best way to detect it was to actually just look.”

Rather than a computer, it took the eyes of a patient scientist to spot the faint dip in light caused by this small planet, using the transit method. HD 137010b stands out as it resembles Earth in both size and orbit, and sits at the chilly edge of its star’s habitable zone, where conditions could allow for liquid water.

This rare find is particularly exciting since most Earth-sized exoplanets orbit cooler M-type stars, which can blast nearby planets with damaging radiation. In contrast, HD 137010b’s star is more suitable for long-term study.

The discovery was made possible by Planet Hunters, a project involving citizen scientists eager to comb through astronomical data for planetary signals overlooked by automation. After identifying the telltale light change, Venner and his team concluded an Earth-sized planet was the best explanation, rather than a binary star.

Venner’s work has energized the astronomy community, making HD 137010b an appealing target for upcoming missions like the European Space Agency’s PLATO telescope and the Terra Hunting Experiment. As Venner explained, “The advantage of this star is that we already know there’s a planet with Earth-like properties.”

Stay inspired by this determined student’s success—proof that fresh eyes and dedicated curiosity can help uncover new wonders in our universe.

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