Goldilocks Zone
The habitable zone, often referred to as the “Goldilocks zone,” defines a region surrounding a star where the temperature is just right—not too scorching and not too frigid—for liquid water to thrive on the surfaces of nearby planets.
Our very own Earth happens to reside within the Sun’s Goldilocks zone. If, hypothetically, we placed Earth in the position currently occupied by the dwarf planet Pluto, the extreme cold would cause all its water to freeze. Conversely, if Earth found itself in Mercury’s orbit, the intense heat would evaporate all its water. The conditions within this zone are crucial because they create an environment conducive to liquid water, a vital ingredient for sustaining life as we know it.
Should a planet draw too near to its parent star, the excessive heat would cause any surface water to vaporize, forming a steamy atmosphere rapidly. Conversely, if the planet ventured too far from its star, the chilling cold would freeze any surface water, making it ice.
Goldilocks zone encompasses a range of orbital distances from a star within which the existence of liquid water on a planet’s surface is possible. It’s important to note that this zone’s boundaries are not fixed and depend on factors such as the star’s size and temperature, making it a dynamic concept in studying planetary habitability.
In January 2020, NASA made headlines by announcing the detection of TOI 700 d, an Earth-sized planet located within the Goldilocks Zone. This discovery underscored the ongoing quest for habitable planets beyond our own.
TOI 700d
The star known as TOI 700 is classified as an “M dwarf.” It resides slightly more than 100 light-years away in the Dorado constellation in the southern sky. TOI 700 is approximately 40% the mass and size of our Sun and boasts a surface temperature about half of the Sun’s.
The discovery of TOI 700d was validated through observations by the Spitzer Space Telescope. This telescope enhanced the precision of TESS’s initial measurements, including details regarding its orbital period and size.
Some notable characteristics of TOI 700d:
- Mass: It possesses a mass approximately 1.72 times Earth’s.
- Size: The planet has a size about 1.12 times that of Earth.
- Orbital period: It completes its orbit around its host star in 37 days.
- Habitable zone: Positioned within the habitable zone of its host star, where conditions for life are feasible.
- Considered Promising: Scientists consider TOI 700d a promising exoplanet with potential conditions conducive to life.
- Research Focus: This discovery marks a significant milestone in exploring exoplanets and is expected to be a central focus of future research.