NASA has announced the discovery of LHS 1140b, a newly identified exoplanet located in the constellation Cetus. This planet is significantly larger than Earth, with a radius 1.73 times greater and a mass 5.6 times that of our planet.
According to NASA, LHS 1140b is situated in the 'habitable zone' around its dim red dwarf star, allowing for the possibility of liquid water—a crucial ingredient for life. The planet’s unique appearance resembles a giant eye due to a vast ocean covered by a thick layer of ice, with a 4,000 km diameter area remaining ice-free thanks to the star's warmth.
Interestingly, LHS 1140b is tidally locked, always showing one face to its star. Despite this, scientists believe temperatures in the eye-like region could reach a comfortable 20°C.
The discovery comes as astronomers continue to investigate the potential existence of a ninth planet in our Solar System, speculated to be hidden in a dark region of the Milky Way.