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HD 137010

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HD 137010

2MASS image of HD 137010
Observation data
Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation Libra[1]
Right ascension 15h 24m 21.25106s[2]
Declination −19° 44′ 21.6785″[2]
Apparent magnitude (V) 10.14[3]
Characteristics
Evolutionary stage Main sequence[4]
Spectral type K3.5 V[3]
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)+27.866[3] km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: +228.536[2] mas/yr
Dec.: −248.158[2] mas/yr
Parallax (π)22.2922±0.0174 mas[2]
Distance146.3 ± 0.1 ly
(44.86 ± 0.04 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)+7.2[1]
Details[4]
Mass0.726±0.017 M
Radius0.707±0.023 R
Luminosity0.232+0.023
−0.021
 L
Surface gravity (log g)4.60±0.03 cgs
Temperature4,770±90 K
Metallicity [Fe/H]-0.22 dex
Age4.8-10 Gyr
Other designations
BD−19 4097, HD 137010, HIP 75398, PPM 230195, EPIC 249661074, TIC 428919267[3]
Database references
SIMBADdata

HD 137010 is a K-type main-sequence star located approximately 146 light-years (44.86 parsecs) away in the zodiac constellation of Libra.[3][4] It is a solar analog, though cooler, dimmer, and smaller than the Sun, with an apparent visual magnitude of 10.14, making it invisible to the naked eye but readily observable with a telescope.[5] The star is notable for hosting the exoplanet candidate HD 137010 b,[6][7] a potential Earth-sized exoplanet detected via a single transit in archival data from NASA's Kepler K2 mission.[4]

Characteristics

[edit]

HD 137010 has a spectral type of K3.5 V,[8] indicating that it is a main-sequence star generating energy through the thermonuclear fusion of hydrogen in its core. Its effective temperature is 4,770 ± 90 K, giving the star an orange hue.[4][5] The star's mass is 0.726 ± 0.017 M, its radius is 0.707 ± 0.023 R, and its luminosity is 0.232+0.023
−0.021
L.[4] Its metallicity is slightly subsolar at [Fe/H] = −0.22 ± 0.07 dex.[5]

The star's age is estimated between 4.8 and 10 billion years (one analysis gives 7.4 ± 2.6 Gyr), consistent with its low magnetic activity.[4] Its surface gravity is log g = 4.60 ± 0.03 (cgs), and its density is 2.90+0.29
−0.26
g/cm³.[5]

Planetary system

[edit]
Inset focusing on the transit event
Artistic representation of exoplanet HD 137010 b

HD 137010 was observed by the Kepler space telescope for 88 days during K2 Campaign 15 (23 August to 19 November 2017).[4] Photometry revealed a single, shallow 10-hour transit event with a depth of 225 ± 10 parts per million (ppm) and a duration of 9.76+0.21
−0.18
hours.[5] The transit was identified through visual inspection of the light curve.[4] Analysis of the K2 photometry, high-resolution imaging (including new speckle observations), archival radial velocities, and Gaia/Hipparcos astrometry ruled out all conventional false-positive scenarios, such as background eclipsing binaries, hierarchical triples, or instrumental artifacts. The event is best explained by a transiting planet candidate, designated HD 137010 b.[4][7]

The candidate has a radius of 1.06+0.06
−0.05
R🜨, consistent with a rocky Super-Earth or Earth analog. Assuming negligible orbital eccentricity, the orbital period is estimated at 355+200
−59
days, with a semi-major axis of 0.88+0.32
−0.10
AU.[5] The planet receives an incident stellar flux of 0.29+0.11
−0.13
times that of Earth, placing it near the outer edge of the habitable zone.[4]

Size comparison of HD 137010 b with Earth and Mars

Its equilibrium temperature is approximately 205+17
−28
K (for a albedo of 0), potentially as low as 173 K for a higher albedo, this is colder than the average surface temperature of Mars.[4] Models suggest a 40% probability of lying in the conservative habitable zone and 51% in the optimistic habitable zone, a thick CO₂-rich atmosphere could potentially allow liquid water despite the low insolation.[4]

As of early 2026, HD 137010 b remains a planet candidate because only one transit has been observed, confirmation requires a second transit or supporting radial-velocity data.[4] The host star's brightness (V = 10.14) makes it an excellent target for future follow-up observations.[4]

The HD 137010 planetary system[6][4]
Companion
(in order from star)
Mass Semimajor axis
(AU)
Orbital period
(days)
Eccentricity Inclination
(°)
Radius
b (unconfirmed) 0.88+0.3
−0.1
355.0+200.0
−59.0
0 >89.82+0.05
−0.03
°
1.06+0.06
−0.05
 R🜨

References

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  1. ^ a b Anderson, E.; Francis, Ch. (2012). "XHIP: An extended hipparcos compilation". Astronomy Letters. 38 (5): 331. arXiv:1108.4971. Bibcode:2012AstL...38..331A. doi:10.1134/S1063773712050015. XHIP record for this object at VizieR.
  2. ^ a b c d e Vallenari, A.; et al. (Gaia collaboration) (2023). "Gaia Data Release 3. Summary of the content and survey properties". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 674: A1. arXiv:2208.00211. Bibcode:2023A&A...674A...1G. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/202243940. S2CID 244398875. Gaia DR3 record for this source at VizieR.
  3. ^ a b c d e "HD 137010". SIMBAD. Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg. Retrieved 2026-01-27.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Venner, Alexander; Vanderburg, Andrew; X. Huang, Chelsea; Dholakia, Shishir; Schwengeler, Hans Martin; Howell, Steve B.; Wittenmyer, Robert A.; Kristiansen, Martti H.; Omohundro, Mark; Terentev, Ivan A. (2026). "A Cool Earth-sized Planet Candidate Transiting a Tenth Magnitude K-dwarf From K2". The Astrophysical Journal. 997 (2): L38. arXiv:2601.19870. Bibcode:2026ApJ...997L..38V. doi:10.3847/2041-8213/adf06f.
  5. ^ a b c d e f "HD 137010 | NASA Exoplanet Archive". exoplanetarchive.ipac.caltech.edu. Retrieved 2026-03-29.
  6. ^ a b Martin, Pierre-Yves (2026). "Planet HD 137010 b". exoplanet.eu. Retrieved 2026-01-28.
  7. ^ a b "Discovery Alert: An Ice-Cold Earth? - NASA Science". 2026-01-27. Retrieved 2026-01-27.
  8. ^ Gray, R. O.; Corbally, C. J.; Garrison, R. F.; McFadden, M. T.; Bubar, E. J.; McGahee, C. E.; O'Donoghue, A. A.; Knox, E. R. (July 2006). "Contributions to the Nearby Stars (NStars) Project: Spectroscopy of Stars Earlier than M0 within 40 pc--The Southern Sample". The Astronomical Journal. 132 (1): 161–170. arXiv:astro-ph/0603770. doi:10.1086/504637. ISSN 0004-6256.