New potentially habitable exoplanet is similar in size and temperature to Earth

By Ashley Strickland, CNN

Updated 1836 GMT (0236 HKT) April 15, 2020

This artist's rendering shows a Jupiter-like planet orbiting a dead white dwarf star 6,500 light-years away from Earth. The planet survived the violent phases of stellar evolution leading to the star's death.
Photos: Weird and wonderful planets beyond our solar system
This artist's rendering shows a Jupiter-like planet orbiting a dead white dwarf star 6,500 light-years away from Earth. The planet survived the violent phases of stellar evolution leading to the star's death.
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This artist's illustration shows the night-side view of the exoplanet WASP-76b, where iron rains down from the sky.
Photos: Weird and wonderful planets beyond our solar system
This artist's illustration shows the night-side view of the exoplanet WASP-76b, where iron rains down from the sky.
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Astronomers have identified a new class of habitable planets, which they call Hycean planets. These are hot, ocean-covered planets with hydrogen-rich atmospheres.
Photos: Weird and wonderful planets beyond our solar system
Astronomers have identified a new class of habitable planets, which they call Hycean planets. These are hot, ocean-covered planets with hydrogen-rich atmospheres.
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This artist's illustration shows L 98-59b, one of the planets in a planetary system 35 light-years away from Earth. This planet has half the mass of Venus.
Photos: Weird and wonderful planets beyond our solar system
This artist's illustration shows L 98-59b, one of the planets in a planetary system 35 light-years away from Earth. This planet has half the mass of Venus.
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In this artist's illustration, two gaseous exoplanets can be seen orbiting the bright sun-like star HD 152843.
Photos: Weird and wonderful planets beyond our solar system
In this artist's illustration, two gaseous exoplanets can be seen orbiting the bright sun-like star HD 152843.
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An artist's rendering of TOI-1231 b, a Neptune-like planet about 90 light years away from Earth.
Photos: Weird and wonderful planets beyond our solar system
An artist's rendering of TOI-1231 b, a Neptune-like planet about 90 light years away from Earth.
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This artist's conception depicts a violent flare erupting on the star Proxima Centauri as seen from the viewpoint of a planet orbiting the star called Proxima Centauri b.
Photos: Weird and wonderful planets beyond our solar system
This artist's conception depicts a violent flare erupting on the star Proxima Centauri as seen from the viewpoint of a planet orbiting the star called Proxima Centauri b.
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After losing its gaseous envelope, the Earth-size core of an exoplanet formed a second atmosphere. It's a toxic blend of hydrogen, methane, and hydrogen cyanide that is likely fueled by volcanic activity occurring beneath a thin crust, leading to its cracked appearance.
Photos: Weird and wonderful planets beyond our solar system
After losing its gaseous envelope, the Earth-size core of an exoplanet formed a second atmosphere. It's a toxic blend of hydrogen, methane, and hydrogen cyanide that is likely fueled by volcanic activity occurring beneath a thin crust, leading to its cracked appearance.
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This illustration shows the metaphorical measuring of the density of each of the seven planets in the nearby TRAPPIST-1 system. New measurements have revealed the most precise densities yet for these planets and they're very similar -- which means they also likely have similar compositions.
Photos: Weird and wonderful planets beyond our solar system
This illustration shows the metaphorical measuring of the density of each of the seven planets in the nearby TRAPPIST-1 system. New measurements have revealed the most precise densities yet for these planets and they're very similar -- which means they also likely have similar compositions.
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This artist's illustration shows the view from the furthest planet in the TOI-178 system.
Photos: Weird and wonderful planets beyond our solar system
This artist's illustration shows the view from the furthest planet in the TOI-178 system.
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