Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Dr. Trifon Trifonov works at the Max Planck Institute of Astronomy in Heidelberg

Bulgarian scientist discovers nearby "super-Earth" exoplanet

Photo: RenderArea

A Bulgarian planetary scientist has discovered a new nearby "super-Earth" exoplanet. The rocky-surface Gliese 486b is only 26 light years from Earth and is suitable for analysis. 

The discovery was published in the prestigious journal Science, as the leading author is Dr. Trifon Trifonov - an astronomer from the Max Planck Institute of Astronomy in Heidelberg, and a graduate of Sofia University, BTA reported.

Gliese 486b is one of the few exoplanets that can help scientists study the composition of the atmosphere rocky earth-like alien world and provide important information about the origin and evolution of earth-like planets, Trifonov said in an interview with the Bulgarian National Television. 

The scientist is part of the CARMENES consortium, uniting 11 scientific institutions in Spain and Germany. Their goal is to track more than 350 red dwarf stars.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Bulgarian scientists at the Antarctic base greet the New Year several times

Bulgarian scientists in Antarctica traditionally celebrate the New Year several times, depending on the presence of foreigners in the base, the head of the Bulgarian Antarctic Expedition, Prof. Dr Christo Pimpirev, told BNR Burgas. One of the..

published on 12/26/24 5:32 PM

43% of Bulgarians are optimistic about 2025 on a personal level

Bulgarians' assessments of the past year in personal terms differ sharply from their views on the situation in the country and the world , according to a nationally representative survey conducted by polling agency Alpha Research between December 1 and..

published on 12/26/24 4:47 PM

Sofia scupltures adorned with gifts on Christmas

For the fifth consecutive year, the Sketches of Sofia initiative have delighted Sofia's residents with gifts placed at the city's statues . Every year, photographer Ivan Shishiev and his wife buy books for Sofia residents, wrap them up and place them at..

published on 12/25/24 5:05 PM