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Astronomers have identified a nearby exoplanet that closely resembles Earth in both size and orbit, raising fresh hopes that a potentially life-friendly world may exist just 150 light-years away.

The planet, labeled HD 137010 b, was detected using archived observations from NASA’s Kepler space telescope. Early measurements suggest it shares several striking similarities with Earth, including a comparable diameter and an orbital period of roughly 355 days around its host star.

Those parallels make it one of the more intriguing Earth-like candidates found in recent years. Yet scientists caution that the planet’s actual environment may be far less welcoming.

A familiar world on paper

Researchers believe HD 137010 b is rocky rather than gaseous, placing it in the same broad category as Earth and Mars. Its orbit circles a sun-like star at a distance that, in theory, could allow liquid water under the right conditions.

Distance also works in astronomers’ favor. At about 150 light-years away, the system is relatively close compared with many known potentially habitable exoplanets, making it brighter and easier to study with current and future telescopes.

That proximity could help scientists analyze its atmosphere in greater detail, something that is far more challenging for worlds located hundreds or thousands of light-years away.

A colder sun, a colder planet

The biggest unknown comes from the star itself.

Unlike Earth’s Sun, which is a G-type yellow dwarf, HD 137010 is a smaller and cooler orange dwarf star. That means the planet likely receives much less warmth and light. Estimates suggest surface temperatures could dip below minus 90 degrees Fahrenheit — colder than Mars.

Such frigid conditions would make liquid water difficult to maintain unless the planet has a thick, heat-trapping atmosphere rich in greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide.

If that atmospheric blanket exists, temperatures could rise enough to support a milder climate. Without it, the planet may be frozen and inhospitable.

The tidal locking question

Planets orbiting smaller stars often circle very close to remain in the so-called habitable zone. That tight orbit can cause “tidal locking,” where one side permanently faces the star and the other remains in darkness.

In that scenario, one hemisphere could be scorching and the other extremely cold, creating harsh conditions for life as we know it.

Scientists are still debating whether such worlds could maintain stable climates or oceans under those circumstances.

A promising but unconfirmed signal

The planet was detected during a single transit event, when it briefly crossed in front of its star and dimmed the light reaching Kepler’s instruments. From that tiny dip, researchers calculated its size and speed.

Still, one transit is not enough to fully confirm a planet’s existence or characteristics. Astronomers typically look for at least three repeated crossings to verify the signal and rule out false positives.

More observations will be needed to confirm the planet and measure its atmosphere, temperature, and composition.

What comes next

If confirmed, HD 137010 b could become a prime target for next-generation telescopes, including the James Webb Space Telescope and upcoming ground-based observatories. These tools may be able to search for water vapor, carbon dioxide, or other chemical markers that hint at habitability.

Even if the world turns out to be frozen, its close resemblance to Earth makes it valuable for understanding how planets form and evolve around different types of stars.

For now, the discovery adds another compelling candidate to the growing list of nearby rocky planets — and another reminder that Earth may not be as unique as once thought.