UniSQ Astronomers Lead Groundbreaking Exoplanet Discovery

A team of astronomers from the University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ) in Toowoomba has spearheaded an international effort to identify HD 137010 b, an Earth-sized planet candidate orbiting a Sun-like star just 146 light-years away. This discovery, published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters on January 27, 2026, marks a significant milestone in the search for potentially habitable worlds beyond our solar system. The planet candidate, detected through a single transit event captured by NASA's Kepler space telescope during its K2 mission, represents one of the closest and most promising rocky exoplanets in a habitable zone around a star similar to our Sun.

Lead author Alex Venner, who conducted his PhD research on this at UniSQ under supervisor Chelsea Huang, first spotted the anomaly as a high school student participating in the Planet Hunters citizen science project run by the University of Oxford. Revisiting the data during his doctoral studies in 2022, Venner confirmed the signal pointed to a world roughly 6% larger than Earth, transiting its host star—a rare event for such distant, Earth-like bodies. This story underscores how higher education institutions like UniSQ foster cutting-edge research that bridges citizen science with professional astrophysics.

The implications for Australian higher education are profound. UniSQ's Centre for Astrophysics, directed by Professor Duncan Wright, exemplifies how regional universities contribute to global space research, attracting PhD students and postdocs to Queensland. For those interested in similar paths, opportunities abound in higher education research jobs across Australia, particularly in STEM fields driving exoplanet hunts.

The Science of Detecting HD 137010 b

The transit method, employed here, relies on observing periodic dips in a star's brightness as a planet passes in front of it from our vantage point. For HD 137010 b, the 10-hour transit—slightly shorter than Earth's 13-hour pass across the Sun—provided crucial data on its size and orbital path. The planet receives only about 29% of Earth's incident stellar flux, placing it near the outer edge of the habitable zone, where liquid water might exist under the right atmospheric conditions.

Kepler's K2 campaign data, analyzed via citizen science and advanced modeling, yielded precise parameters: an orbital period akin to one Earth year, around a K-type dwarf star (cooler than the Sun but Sun-like in spectral class). Confirmation requires at least two more transits, potentially observable by NASA's TESS or ESA's CHEOPS satellites. UniSQ's role highlights the value of PhD training in data-intensive astronomy, preparing graduates for roles at institutions worldwide.

In Australia, universities like UniSQ collaborate with international partners, including Harvard and Oxford, enhancing research output. Aspiring researchers can build skills through programs linked to higher education career advice on excelling as a research assistant.

Detailed Profile of the Planet Candidate

HD 137010 b, often dubbed a "cold Earth" or "where Earth meets Mars," boasts a radius 1.06 times Earth's, suggesting a rocky composition. Orbiting at a Mars-like distance from its star, its equilibrium temperature could hover around -68°C (-90°F) without a thick atmosphere. However, models indicate a 51% chance it's in the optimistic habitable zone and a 40% shot at the conservative one, with potential for liquid oceans if greenhouse gases like CO2 dominate.

The star HD 137010, a tenth-magnitude K-dwarf visible to amateur telescopes, makes follow-up studies feasible. This rarity—a transiting terrestrial planet around a bright, Sun-like host—positions it uniquely for atmospheric spectroscopy once confirmed.

For higher education professionals, this discovery spotlights demand for astrophysicists skilled in exoplanet characterization. Explore university jobs in Australia, including lecturer jobs in physics and astronomy.

UniSQ's Growing Legacy in Exoplanet Research

UniSQ has emerged as a hub for exoplanet science, with its Centre for Astrophysics leading projects like Twinkle space telescope contributions and small planet hunts funded by Australian Research Council grants. Professor Jonti Horner notes that our solar system has three potentially habitable worlds (Venus, Earth, Mars), but only one succeeds—emphasizing why candidates like HD 137010 b are thrilling yet cautious prospects.

Chelsea Huang, Venner's supervisor, reflects: "Since the discovery of the first exoplanet 30 years ago, we've always tried to find Earth's twin. We haven't found that yet. But we are a step closer." This PhD-led breakthrough demonstrates how Queensland universities nurture talent from citizen science to peer-reviewed publications.

Students and academics can leverage such environments; check research jobs and postdoc opportunities in Australian higher ed.

Assessing Habitability: Odds and Atmospheres

Habitability hinges on retaining an atmosphere capable of warming the surface. HD 137010 b's low insolation suggests a snowball Earth scenario without sufficient greenhouse effects, but CO2-rich air could enable subsurface or surface liquids. The 50% habitability odds stem from orbital modeling uncertainties.

• Conservative habitable zone: 40% probability
• Optimistic habitable zone: 51% probability
• Beyond zone: ~50% chance, frigid world

Future JWST or next-gen telescopes could probe its mass and composition via radial velocity or secondary eclipses. For educators, this ties into curricula on astrobiology, fostering interdisciplinary research at unis like UniSQ.

Interested in teaching these topics? View professor jobs in higher education.

Challenges in Confirming Earth-Like Exoplanets

Single-transit detections like this are tricky; orbital periods near one year mean decades between events from Earth. NASA's Jessie Christiansen stresses the "gold standard" of three transits. International collaborations, bolstered by Australian input, are key.

Australia's clear skies and facilities like the Anglo-Australian Telescope support ground follow-ups. UniSQ's involvement showcases regional higher ed's global impact, inspiring faculty positions in astronomy.

Read more on the arXiv paper.

Implications for Australian Higher Education and STEM

This discovery elevates UniSQ's profile, drawing funding and talent to Queensland. It aligns with Australia's National Astronomy Plan, emphasizing exoplanet research for astrobiology insights. Regional unis prove vital, countering urban concentration.

Stakeholders praise the citizen-to-PhD pipeline, promoting inclusive science education. Impacts include boosted enrollments in physics and computing, key for data analysis in astronomy.

For career shifters, advice on becoming a university lecturer highlights pathways earning up to AUD 115k.

Career Opportunities in Astrophysics Down Under

UniSQ's success signals demand for experts in exoplanet detection, radial velocity spectroscopy, and machine learning for light curves. Roles span postdocs, lecturers, to research assistants at Australian universities.

• PhD programs in astrophysics
• Postdoctoral fellowships
• Observatory operations
• Data science in astronomy

Venner's trajectory—from Wales high schooler to Max Planck postdoc—illustrates accessible routes. Platforms like AcademicJobs list higher ed jobs, including remote options.

Explore the full story via NASA's Discovery Alert and ABC's coverage: UniSQ Planet Discovery.

Photo by Greg Rosenke on Unsplash

Future Outlook: Next Steps in Exoplanet Exploration

Confirmation could redefine habitable zone boundaries for K-dwarfs. Australian higher ed stands ready with PLATO mission inputs and ground arrays. Optimism tempers with science: as Horner notes, Venus and Mars tease habitability but fall short.

This fuels investment in STEM education, jobs, and infrastructure. For professionals, it's a call to university jobs advancing humanity's cosmic quest.

In summary, HD 137010 b exemplifies UniSQ's prowess, urging students to pursue astrophysics via Rate My Professor insights, higher ed jobs, and career advice. Stay tuned for confirmations that could reshape our galactic neighborhood view.