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NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) has found its first Earth-size planet, Space.com reports. The planet, called HD 21749c, orbits a star about 53 light-years from Earth, researchers write this week in The Astrophysical Journal Letters. The rocky HD 21749c circles its star at close range, completing a full orbit every 7.8 Earth days, suggesting to astronomers that it is probably too hot to sustain life. TESS also discovered another planet orbiting the same star that astronomers are calling a “sub-Neptune” after its closest analog in own solar system.

Launched in 2018, TESS is NASA’s new space-based exoplanet hunter. Now it’s found its 1st Earth-sized world orbiting a nearby star. The discovery bodes well, scientists say, for finding more similar worlds in the near future. Artist’s concept of HD 21749c, the first Earth-sized exoplanet discovered by TESS. Image via Robin Dienel/Carnegie Institution for Science.NASA’s newest exoplanet-hunting telescope, the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), has now found its first Earth-sized world. It’s the smallest planet TESS has found yet in its still-young mission. Astronomers say it’s another exciting step towards finding worlds beyond our solar system that might be capable of...