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.
