Astronomers have found a new Earth-like planet, which is only 90 light-years away from ours, very close by astronomical standards.. Potentially, it can support life, which makes it even more interesting, according to New Atlas..

Evidence of the existence of the planet, which was designated LP 791-18d, was found using the TESS telescope and in data from the Spitzer telescope, which has already completed its mission..

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The planet revolves around a red dwarf, which is located in the constellation Chalice. The team that discovered the planet determined its mass by measuring the time changes it takes for the planet to orbit its star.. The gravitational influence of other planets in the system determines the orbit of a celestial body.

Calculations carried out by scientists have shown that the planet is only slightly larger and more massive than the Earth.. She is tidally connected to her star, that is, she always faces her one side.. The side facing the sun is too hot to support water.. But scientists believe that volcanic activity across the planet's surface could have preserved the atmosphere and allowed water to condense on the dark side of the celestial body..

LP 791-18d is on the inner edge of the habitable zone, meaning it is neither too hot nor too cold for liquid water to exist on its surface.. Prior to the discovery of LP 791-18d, astronomers were already aware of another planet in the system, LP 791-18c. This is an outer planet, it is much larger and more massive than planet d.

When planet c passes close to planet d, it produces a gravitational pull, making planet d's orbit elliptical. The elliptical orbit deforms planet d slightly, creating internal friction that heats up the interior of the planet significantly and causes volcanic activity on its surface.. Jupiter's moon Io is similarly affected.

Previously, astronomers proposed a classification of planetary systems, dividing them into four categories based on the size and location of their planets.. And she showed that the type of our solar system is the rarest.