Everything We Know About ‘SPECULOOS-3b’, The Earth-Like Planet Discovered By NASA

We all remember that one Tom and Jerry episode that had us convinced that the moon was made of cheese. Well, of course, that turned out to be untrue (a major disappointment growing up), but NASA sure has a sense of humour— because what do you mean they found a new Earth-size planet and named it after the Belgian cookie, Speculoos! (aka Biscoff). 

But yes, you heard it right; a new Earth-like planet has been discovered and here is everything you need to know about it; including if it tastes like Biscoff. And, spoiler alert: it does not (cue more disappointment and a crying face emoji).

All about SPECULOOS-3b, the newly discovered Earth-size planet

In a paper published in Nature Astronomy on 15 May 2024, the discovery of a new Earth-like exoplanet named SPECULOOS-3b was announced as part of NASA’s SPECULOOS (Search for Planets EClipsing ULtra-cOOl Stars) programme. 

Helmed by Michaël Gillon from the University of Liège, Belgium, the project was carried out in collaboration with the Universities of Cambridge, Birmingham, Bern, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and ETH Zürich. 

How does this planet look in comparison to Earth?

The Earth-like exoplanet SPECULOOS-3b’s distance from Earth is 55 light-years. Very close in cosmic distance, the planet orbits an ultra-cool red dwarf. Now, red dwarfs are cool and dim stars, which have had a long lifespan, almost 100 billion years. Consequently, stars like this exude high-energy radiation.

In comparison to our sun, this red star has a lifespan that is 100 times that of our sun. In fact, it is also 1000 times cooler and dimmer than our sun, and similar in size to Jupiter.

The exoplanet, on the other hand, is like Earth in its rocky composition, size and topography. It takes 17 hours to orbit the red star, which means one year on SPECULOOS-3b is just 17 Earth hours.  

Can life exist on SPECULOOS-3b?

While the newly-discovered planet is being called earth-like, SPECULOOS-3b is much closer to the ultra-cool red star it orbits than the Earth is to our sun. This means that the exoplanet is doused in radiation, which would make it difficult and unlikely for an atmosphere to exist on the planet, thereby, squashing the possibility of life.  

SPECULOOS-3b: Where the sun never shines

SPECULOOS-3b appears to be tidally locked. This means that the exoplanet has endless days and nights. Its one side always faces the star, residing in perpetual daytime. Meanwhile, the other side always faces away from the star, residing in perpetual nighttime just like the dark side of our moon.  

Plans for further research

According to NASA, the discovery of this Earth-like planet could be a pioneering moment in the study of exoplanetary geology as well as understanding the planet’s surface mineralogy and research on its potential atmosphere. Using the James Webb Space Telescope, scientists plan on executing multiple research projects to try and understand this planet and its surroundings.  

What do we think at Augustman Hong Kong?

Well, we’re not scientists or experts in space research. But what we do know is that the Universe works in mysterious ways and the more we learn about it, the more we understand ourselves.

And because we’re writers, we’ll obviously take the poetic route and quote astrophysicist, Neil deGrasse Tyson: “I look up at the night sky, and I know that, yes, we are part of this Universe, we are in this Universe, but perhaps more important than both of those facts is that the Universe is in us. When I reflect on that fact, I look up — many people feel small, because they’re small and the Universe is big, but I feel big, because my atoms came from those stars.” 

(Header and feature image courtesy: NASA/JPL-Caltech)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

– What is the distance between SPECULOOS-3b and Earth? 

The distance between SPECULOOS-3b and Earth is 55 light-years.

– Is SPECULOOS-3b habitable? 

No. It is unlikely for SPECULOOS-3b to be habitable as it is very close to the ultra-cool red dwarf it orbits. This means that the planet is prone to radiation that has the potential to vaporise its atmosphere. Without an atmosphere, life cannot exist.