Madison G. Scott; Georgina Dransfield; Mathilde Timmermans; Amaury H. M. J. Triaud; Benjamin V. Rackham; Khalid Barkaoui; Adam J. Burgasser; Karen A. Collins; Micha毛l Gillon; Steve B. Howell; Alan M. Levine; Francisco J. Pozuelos; Keivan G. Stassun; Carl Ziegler; Yilen Gomez Maqueo Chew; Catherine A. Clark; Yasmin Davis; Fatemeh Davoudi; Tansu Daylan; Brice-Olivier Demory; Dax Feliz; Akihiko Fukui; Maximilian N. G眉nther; Emmanu毛l Jehin; Florian Lienhard; Andrew W. Mann; Cl脿udia Jan贸 Mu帽oz; Norio Narita; Peter P. Pedersen; Richard P. Schwarz; Avi Shporer; Abderahmane Soubkiou; Sebasti谩n Z煤帽iga-Fern谩ndez (2026).听.听Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 547(1), stag070.听
As scientists discover more types of exoplanets (planets outside our solar system), they are rethinking what conditions might allow a planet to be habitable. Traditionally, the 鈥渉abitable zone鈥� is defined as the range of distances from a star where liquid water could exist on a planet鈥檚 surface. In this study, the authors propose a broader concept called the听鈥渢emperate zone,鈥�听defined by the amount of stellar energy a planet receives (instellation), specifically between 0.1 and 5 times the amount Earth gets from the Sun. This wider range includes more planets that might potentially support life under different conditions.
The researchers also introduce the TEMPOS survey, which focuses on measuring the sizes of planets orbiting very cool, small stars known as M dwarfs. As part of this effort, they discovered and confirmed two planets: TOI-6716 b and TOI-7384 b. TOI-6716 b is about the same size as Earth, while TOI-7384 b is larger (closer to a 鈥渕ini-Neptune鈥�). Both orbit relatively cool M dwarf stars and complete an orbit in just a few days. The team used multiple methods鈥攊ncluding ground-based observations, high-resolution imaging, and statistical validation鈥攖o confirm these planets and precisely measure their sizes.
Both planets receive relatively high levels of stellar energy, placing them near the hotter inner edge of the proposed temperate zone. This means they may be too warm for Earth-like conditions, but they are still valuable for studying planetary environments. Notably, TOI-6716 b could be a promising target for the James Webb Space Telescope, especially for听transmission spectroscopy听(a technique that analyzes starlight passing through a planet鈥檚 atmosphere to detect its composition), if it has retained an atmosphere. Overall, this work expands the range of planets considered potentially interesting for habitability studies and contributes new targets for future observation.
Figure 1.
听
