K2-155d is a Super-Earth terrestrial extrasolar planet orbiting the red dwarf star K2-155, located approximately 267 light years from Earth. The planet was one of the 15 extrasolar planets discovered by the Japanese astronomer Teryuki Hirano at the Tokyo Institute of Technology, and was discovered by NASA's Kepler spacecraft as part of its K2 mission. It has gained some attention in early 2018 as a potentially habitable planet which is also capable of harboring liquid water.
Characteristics[]
K2-155d is a super-Earth terrestrial planet, which means that it has a rocky body, like Earth. Its radius is 1.6 times larger than Earth's. Its orbital radius is 0.1886 AU, and has an orbital period of 40.7 days. The planets radius falls within the range between that of smaller rocky planets and larger gas-rich planets. Findings have shown that the planet has a low orbital eccentricity.
Potential life[]
K2-155d has been labelled by astronomers as a potentially habitable planet, as it orbits the habitable zone of its star and likely has the potential to hold liquid water. Astronomers created a 3D climate simulation to find out if K2-155d can have water on its surface, which was met with impressive results. Teruyuki Hirano, the discoverer of the planet, is cautious about the conditions, stating that it is "not a guarantee" for it to be habitable. In addition, the planet has been named as a potential for possible extraterrestrial life.