Meet K2-138 b, the trailblazing first in a fascinating five-planet chain orbiting the star K2-138. Discovered in 2017 by the diligent Kepler Space Telescope using the clever transit method, this exoplanet is part of a cosmic dance choreographed so precisely it has captured astronomers’ imaginations. K2-138 b orbits close to its host star, making it a sizzling world compared to our own cozy Earth. While it doesn’t have a catchy proper name yet, this planet stands out for its role in unlocking secrets about tightly packed planetary systems beyond our solar neighborhood. It’s a stellar example of how space telescopes open windows to mysterious new worlds far, far away in the cosmos.
