TOI-700 d
The first Earth-sized world found in the habitable zone by TESS.
Discovered by NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), it represents a milestone in modern astronomy: an Earth-sized world where liquid water could potentially exist on its surface.
- Classification
- Terrestrial Exoplanet
- Discovery Instrument
- TESS Space Telescope
- Orbital Zone
- Habitable Zone
Lore & Background
Theoretical models diverge on surface reality: it could be an ocean world shrouded in steam or a rocky sphere with a dense atmosphere. This ambiguity makes the planet a critical test case for habitability theories, suggesting that even around cooler stars, conditions may exist where liquid water persists without being blasted away by stellar fury.
In Their Own Story
On its surface, a crimson sun hangs low, casting long shadows across an eternal twilight zone where day meets night. The air might be thick with steam or thin and crisp; oceans could stretch endlessly under skies that never fully brighten. It is a silent sentinel in the void, transforming raw data into potential life.
Reader's Guide
Its 37-day orbit places it within the habitable zone, receiving approximately 86% of the stellar energy Earth receives from the Sun. Current models prioritize atmospheric characterization—specifically water vapor, carbon dioxide, or methane—using observatories like the James Webb Space Telescope to determine if this world retains a protective envelope.
Did You Know?
- TESS Breakthrough: First Earth-sized world discovered in a star's habitable zone.
- Stellar Spectra: The host M-dwarf emits mostly infrared light, likely rendering the sky reddish to any observer.
- Insolation Levels: The planet receives approximately 86% of the solar energy Earth gets from the Sun.
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