Today’s Current Affairs: Astronomers have made a groundbreaking discovery of a new Earth-sized planet orbiting an ultracool dwarf star, similar in size to Jupiter. Named Speculoos-3b, this exoplanet is just 55 light-years away from Earth and has a unique orbit that results in a year shorter than an Earth day. The discovery, made by the SPECULOOS project, opens up possibilities for further exploration and understanding of our universe.
1. How far away is Speculoos-3b located from Earth?
– 25 light-years
– 55 light-years
– 100 light-years
– 75 light-years
Answer: 55 light-years
2. How many times more energy per second does Speculoos-3b receive compared to the Earth from the Sun?
– 5 times
– 10 times
– 15 times
– 20 times
Answer: 10 times
3. Which organization led the discovery of Speculoos-3b?
– NASA
– University of Liege
– University of Birmingham
– Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Answer: University of Liege
4. What is the name of the project that was established to search for exoplanets orbiting ultra-cool dwarf stars?
– SPECULOOS
– NASA
– Space.com
– University of Birmingham
Answer: SPECULOOS
5. How long is the expected lifespan of ultra-cool red dwarf stars?
– 10 billion years
– 50 billion years
– 100 billion years
– 200 billion years
Answer: 100 billion years
What did astronomers discover recently?
Astronomers recently discovered a new Earth-sized planet that orbits an ultracool dwarf star similar in size to Jupiter.
What is the name of the newly discovered exoplanet?
The newly discovered exoplanet is named Speculoos-3b.
How far away is Speculoos-3b from Earth?
Speculoos-3b is located relatively close to Earth, just 55 light-years away.
What is unique about the orbit of Speculoos-3b?
Speculoos-3b swings around the red dwarf once every 17 hours, making a year on the planet shorter than a single Earth day. It is also likely “tidally locked” to its star, meaning it has an eternal dayside and an everlasting nightside.
What is special about ultracool dwarf stars in terms of their lifespan?
Ultracool dwarf stars have exceptionally long lifetimes of about 100 billion years, making them the last stars still shining in the Universe. This long lifespan could offer opportunities for extraterrestrial life on orbiting planets to develop.
Today's current affairs bring exciting news from the world of astronomy. Astronomers have discovered a new Earth-sized planet, named Speculoos-3b, orbiting an ultracool dwarf star similar in size to Jupiter. This exoplanet is located just 55 light-years away from Earth and orbits the red dwarf star once every 17 hours, making its year shorter than a single Earth day. The discovery was made by the SPECULOOS project, a collaborative effort involving several universities and research institutions. Ultra-cool red dwarf stars, like the one around which Speculoos-3b orbits, are abundant in our galaxy and have incredibly long lifespans, offering potential opportunities for extraterrestrial life to develop. This groundbreaking discovery opens up new possibilities for studying exoplanets and understanding the vast universe beyond our own solar system.
