A team of astronomers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), in collaboration with other astronomers around the world, managed to identify two rocky planets orbiting the star HD 260655. These planets are located in a system that is only 33 light years from Earth. .
According to data and estimates, the planets are rocky and have an approximate size of Earth. The planet HD 260655b is about 1,2 times larger, twice as massive as Earth, and slightly denser. Planet HD 260655c, on the other hand, is 1,5 times the size of Earth. Its mass is three times greater than Earth's and less than our planet.
The "flow of time" on these planets is "faster"
The progressive movement of these planets is quite fast. According to estimates, the planet HD 260655b rotates in just 2,8 days. On the other hand, the planet HD 260655c orbits it every 5,7 days. With orbits very close to the star, the surfaces of these planets are very hot. They can reach temperatures of 710 K (about 436°C) on the innermost planet and 560 K (about 286°C) on the outermost planet.
"Interplanetary colonization" still has no rivals for Earth
Due to such temperatures, they are considered uninhabitable. Furthermore, given these circumstances, it is highly unlikely that these celestial bodies would contain any liquid water. However, researchers are excited about the discovery, especially the possibility of exploring these new worlds. The conclusion about the existence of these planets was made by Michel Kunimoto, a doctoral student at the MIT Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research. Analyzing the patterns of the star's luminosity decay, Kunimoto was able to conclude that HD 260655 had stars orbiting around it.
The official identification of these planets was possible only thanks to the cooperation of researchers from observatories in Hawaii (Keck) and Spain (Calar Alto). They shared their findings using state-of-the-art equipment from TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite). For those not in the know, TESS is owned by NASA (it's just another of its advanced types of equipment) and has its own mission led by MIT. Its purpose is to recognize and observe the nearest bright stars.
