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Have astronomers found an Earth-like world that is colder than Mars? On January 27, 2026, a team of researchers announced a major discovery: a new candidate for an exoplanet. This mysterious world is located 146 light-years away from our solar system. Scientists have named the planet HD 137010 b. It is a rocky planet only slightly larger than Earth, orbiting a star very similar to our Sun. The path it takes around its star is also comparable to Earth's orbit. These findings are highly exciting for scientists around the world.
However, there is one major issue with this discovery. The planet might be extremely cold, perhaps even colder than the Red Planet Mars. Despite this potential for freezing temperatures, it could turn out to be a temperate world capable of holding liquid water on its surface. Scientists are eager to learn more about this strange new world, seeking to determine if it is a frozen ball of ice or a place where life could exist.
The researchers found this candidate planet while analyzing data from NASA's famous Kepler Space Telescope. That telescope ended its mission in 2018 after a long and successful search for planets. During its long life, it traveled deep into space to find new worlds. Right now, the exoplanet is still considered a candidate. This means the data strongly suggest a planet exists there, but it has not yet been fully confirmed. The scientific team published their detailed findings in the peer-reviewed journal The Astrophysical Journal Letters. Their work opens a new door for understanding what other worlds might look like in our galaxy.
The researchers suggest that HD 137010 b might orbit just at the outer edge of its star's habitable zone. Scientists call this region the "habitable zone"—the area around a star where temperatures on a rocky planet could support liquid water. This is the most critical region for life as we know it. However, there is a significant issue with this specific planet: it receives less than one-third of the heat and light from its star that Earth receives from the Sun.
Why does it get so much less energy? The reason is that its star is cooler and dimmer than our Sun. Even though the star is the same spectral type as our Sun, it emits less energy. With this information in mind, the researchers calculated the surface temperature of HD 137010 b. They believe the temperature could be about -90°F (-68°C). For comparison, Mars has an average temperature of -85°F (-65°C). This makes HD 137010 b slightly colder than Mars. If its temperature is indeed that low, it would be a very icy world.
An artist's conception of exoplanet candidate HD 137010 b. This view also creates an effect similar to a transit, as the planet's star disappears and then reappears from behind HD 137010 b. Video via NASA/ JPL-Caltech/ Keith Miller (Caltech/ IPAC).
As of now, HD 137010 b remains a candidate exoplanet. This specific classification means the data suggests it is a real planet, but it still requires full confirmation from additional observations. The research paper states that a comprehensive analysis of observations from the K2 mission helped the team. They also used historical low-resolution imaging and new high-resolution speckle imaging data, alongside archival HARPS radial velocity data and Hipparcos-Gaia astrometry. These combined tools allowed the team to exclude conventional false-positive hypotheses for the transit signal.
This process left a transiting exoplanet as the most plausible explanation for the photometric event. However, since the scientists only have evidence of one transit event, they ultimately classify HD 137010 b as a candidate planet. The research team used the transit method to detect the planet. This method works when a planet passes in front of its star as viewed from Earth, causing the star's light to dim slightly. Unfortunately, the Kepler telescope only observed one single transit before its mission ended in 2018.
Astronomers want to see additional transits to feel confident that the planet is real. They are hoping that NASA's TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite) or the European Space Agency's CHEOPS will be able to detect additional transits. These new missions might provide the extra data needed for confirmation.
Although astronomers say that HD 137010 b is likely very cold, there is still a possibility that it is warmer. This would require the planet to have a carbon dioxide-rich atmosphere. Such an atmosphere could trap heat and raise the surface temperature significantly. Currently, we do not know if the planet has an atmosphere at all; we simply do not have enough data to answer that question yet. Whether or not the planet is actually within the habitable zone would also be a major factor in determining its true climate.
The researchers provided specific probabilities regarding the planet's location. They stated there is a 40% chance the planet is within the nominal conservative habitable zone. This is the strict definition of where liquid water could exist. There is also a 51% chance it lies within the broader optimistic habitable zone. This definition is more generous and includes areas where life might survive in the past or future. However, there is still a 9% chance the planet isn't within the habitable zone at all. This uncertainty is exactly why more observations are needed.
Astronomers have discovered a possible ice-cold Earth-like exoplanet located 146 light-years away. It might be colder than Mars, making it a frozen world. But there is also a chance it could be more Earth-like and habitable. The search for life elsewhere in the universe continues to grow more exciting with every new discovery. HD 137010 b is a fascinating candidate that will likely be studied for many years. Future telescopes and satellites will help scientists decide if this world is truly an ice ball or a potential second home for life.