TOI-700 e

Lore & Background

TOI-700 e was first identified as a possible planet in November 2021, alongside three previously known planets around the same star. Its existence was confirmed in January 2023, and it was discovered by NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS). The planet is terrestrial, with 95 percent of Earth's radius and 81.8 percent of Earth's mass, and receives about 127 percent of the sunlight Earth gets from the Sun.

The host star, TOI-700, is a red dwarf of spectral class M that is about 40% the mass and radius of the Sun and roughly half its temperature. It is bright and shows low levels of stellar activity; over the 11 sectors observed with TESS, no white-light flares were detected, and its low rotation rate further indicates a quiet star. TOI-700 e orbits at a distance of 0.134 AU with a period of 27.8 days, comparable to the Moon's orbital period around Earth. It is in a near 4:3 orbital resonance with TOI-700 d, and is ten percent smaller than that neighboring planet.

Reader's Guide

TOI-700 e is significant as one of only about a dozen known exoplanets located within the habitable zone of their star, where conditions might allow liquid water on the surface. NASA scientists have stated that the planet's temperate distance from its star suggests potential for liquid water, and the planet has been described as 'Earth-like' due to its similar size, mass, and roughly comparable temperature. Its discovery adds to the understanding of Earth-like planets and the TOI-700 system, which is important for further research. TESS requires an additional year to acquire more data about the exoplanets in this system, indicating that ongoing observations will refine knowledge of TOI-700 e and its neighbors. The planet's low stellar activity environment, with no detected flares from its host star, may also be favorable for assessing habitability. As a terrestrial world in a multi-planet system with orbital resonances, TOI-700 e provides a valuable case study for planetary system formation and the potential for life beyond the Solar System.

Did You Know?

• TOI-700 e has 95% of Earth's radius and 81.8% of Earth's mass.
• Its orbital period of 27.8 days is comparable to the Moon's 27.5-day orbit around Earth.
• Over 11 TESS sectors, the host star showed no white-light flares.