OMG science
Hubble Discovers Closest Earth-Sized World to Our Star System
Scientists using the Hubble Space Telescope have measured the size of an exoplanet just 22 light years away, confirming it as the closest known Earth-sized world to our solar system.
The exoplanet, named LTT 1445Ac, has a diameter 1.07 times that of Earth's and a mass of around 1.37 Earths. However, its surface temperature of 500 degrees Fahrenheit makes it uninhabitable for potential life.
To observe exoplanets, astronomers rely on a transit event where the planet passes between a telescope and a star, causing a dip in the star's light. The researchers initially used the TESS satellite to observe LTT 1445Ac, but the Hubble Space Telescope provided conclusive data. [ more ]