The Planet TOI-561b is a "super-Earth" located at 280 light-years away. An ancient rocky planet offer evidence that extraterrestrial life may have existed long before humans. Scientists found this planet through NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS). This exoplanet is about 50% bigger than Earth

The star that TOI-561b orbits is approximately 14 billion years old. the planet requires less than half Earth day to orbit its star. TOI-561b has an average surface temperature of over 3,140 degrees Fahrenheit. This is the first planet with a confirmed rocky composition around such an old star. This super-Earth is far older than scientists previously expected. It formed at a time when the majority of stars in our galaxy were first beginning to shine. Though this particular planet is unlikely to be inhabited today. Such planets may have existed for twice as long as Earth. But gone extinct long before life arose on Earth. Giving them plenty of time to support complex life and even intelligent civilizations

"Light in Dark Places" by Scott Buckley is under a Creative Commons license (CC BY 3.0)
Music promoted by BreakingCopyright:    • 'Light in Dark Places' by Scott Buckl...  

Credits: NASA