Sharjah24 – Reuters: "Scientists have discovered a unique rocky 'super-Earth' near one of the oldest stars in the galaxy, according to a statement from the University of California, Riverside."
"The planet, known as TOI-561b, is located 280 light-years away in a part of the Milky Way known as the galactic thick disk."
"TOI-561b is about 50 percent larger than Earth and roughly three times its mass."
"The planet is much closer to its star than Earth and orbits twice every Earth day."
"Life as we know it could not exist on TOI-561b's surface, where the average surface temperature is over 1,726 degrees Celsius, or 3,140 degrees Fahrenheit."
"Heavy elements such as iron or magnesium that are associated with planet building are less abundant in TOI-561b's region of the galaxy."
"Scientists believe this is why the planet has density similar to that of our planet."
"There are two other planets in the system which are too large and not dense enough to be rocky."
"They orbit a star named for NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite. TOI 561 stands for TESS Object of Interest 561."
"The TESS Mission team used the W.M. Keck Observatory in Hawaii to confirm the presence of planet TOI-561b."
"Discovery of planet TOI-561b and observations made about its composition have been accepted for publication in the Astronomical Journal."
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