Astronomers have discovered a super-earth, named Ross 508 b, that is located close to the habitable zone of its red dwarf star approximately 36.5 light-years from Earth. It was found using the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan’s (NAOJ) Subaru Telescope in Hawaii, and since it’s 4-times the mass of our own planet, the world is most likely rocky instead of gaseous.
Ross 508 b orbits its red dwarf star every 10.75 days, but despite its relatively distance to Earth, the exoplanet cannot be seen with the naked eye. For those wondering how NASA defines ‘habitable zone’, it’s essentially the distance from a star at which liquid water could exist on orbiting planets’ surfaces. Speaking of red dwarfs, did you know that orange dwarf stars also exist? One of them, PDS 70, was spotted by the Hubble Space Telescope.
Sale
Celestron – 70mm Travel Scope – Portable Refractor Telescope – Fully-Coated Glass Optics – Ideal Telescope for Beginners – BONUS Astronomy Software Package
- Superior optics: The Celestron 70mm Travel Scope features high-quality, fully-coated glass optics, a potent 70mm objective lens, a lightweight frame, and a custom backpack to carry it all. Its quality is unmatched in its class and against competitors.
- Powerful eyepieces for up-close viewing: Our telescope for astronomy beginners is equipped with two high-quality eyepieces (20mm and 10mm) that provide low- and high-power views of celestial objects at night and terrestrial objects during the day.
- Large 70mm objective lens: Our refractor telescope is equipped with a large 70mm aperture objective lens that provides enhanced, brighter views compared to the 50mm model while adding very little additional weight. Setting up and using the Travel Scope is quick and easy.
- Bonus bag, tripod, and software: This Celestron telescope and full-height tripod can be taken anywhere in the included travel backpack. Accessories also include a FREE download of one of the top consumer rated astronomy software programs.
- Unbeatable warranty and customer support: Buy with confidence from the telescope brand, based in California since 1960. You’ll also receive a 2-year warranty and unlimited access to technical support from our team of US-based experts.
Life on other planets might be like nothing on Earth – it could be life as we don’t know it. But it makes sense, at least at first, to search for something more familiar. Life as we know it should be easier to find. And ‘the light’s better’ in the habitable zone,” said NASA.