Bulgarian scientist discovers nearby "super-Earth" exoplanet

published on 3/5/21 12:02 PM

Photo: RenderArea

A Bulgarian planetary scientist has discovered a new nearby "super-Earth" exoplanet. The rocky-surface Gliese 486b is only 26 light years from Earth and is suitable for analysis.

The discovery was published in the prestigious journal Science, as the leading author is Dr. Trifon Trifonov - an astronomer from the Max Planck Institute of Astronomy in Heidelberg, and a graduate of Sofia University, BTA reported.

Gliese 486b is one of the few exoplanets that can help scientists study the composition of the atmosphere rocky earth-like alien world and provide important information about the origin and evolution of earth-like planets, Trifonov said in an interview with the Bulgarian National Television.

The scientist is part of the CARMENES consortium, uniting 11 scientific institutions in Spain and Germany. Their goal is to track more than 350 red dwarf stars.

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Radio Bulgaria Life astromony astronomer Earth Gliese 486b Heidelberg Max Planck planet planetary scientist red dwarfs science scientist stars

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Dr. Trifon Trifonov works at the Max Planck Institute of Astronomy in Heidelberg