Orbiting the bright star HD 97658, this intriguing exoplanet, known as HD 97658 b, was discovered in 2010 using the clever technique of radial velocity. Spying on its tiny stellar wobbles with the HIRES Spectrometer at the renowned W. M. Keck Observatory, astronomers announced this world’s existence from the ground. HD 97658 b is a super-Earth, larger than our own planet but smaller than the gas giants, making it a fascinating hybrid with potential for a thick atmosphere or perhaps oceans. Although not too far from its star, it’s an exciting subject for scientists eager to unravel the mysteries of planets unlike those in our solar neighborhood. Exploring HD 97658 b is like opening a cosmic storybook of possibilities beyond Earth!
