New Earth-Like Planet 'G0-RK151' Discovered in Habitable Zone - May Be Capable of Supporting Life.

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Astronomers at the European Southern Observatory (ESO) have confirmed the discovery of a distant, potentially habitable exoplanet named G0-RK151, located approximately 900 light-years from Earth in the Cygnus constellation. The planet was identified using data from the HARPS spectrograph at La Silla Observatory in Chile, supported by imaging and spectral follow-up from ESO’s Very Large Telescope (VLT) in Paranal.

G0-RK151 is believed to be a rocky, terrestrial planet, roughly 1.3 times the radius of Earth, with a mass estimate placing it just over 1.8 Earth masses. It orbits a K-type main-sequence star in a 41-day orbit — well within the host star’s habitable zone, where conditions could plausibly allow for liquid water on the planet’s surface.

The planet’s parent star, EPJ-Cygni 151, is slightly cooler and dimmer than the Sun but known for its low variability and stable luminosity — conditions favorable for long-term atmospheric retention on orbiting planets.

visual representation of g0-rk131

Atmospheric Clues

While direct imaging of the planet’s surface is not possible at this distance, spectroscopic analysis of starlight filtered through the system has yielded early indications of an atmosphere containing water vapor, carbon dioxide, and other volatiles. A faint spectral signal near 760 nm may suggest the presence of molecular oxygen, though researchers stress that further data is needed to confirm this.

“The signatures are preliminary but compelling,” said one astronomer familiar with the analysis. “If validated, Gork-151 will become one of the most promising exoplanets identified to date — particularly for long-term atmospheric stability and surface habitability.”

In the official ESO archive, the planet appears under its technical designation, EPJ-Cygni 151c. However, the research team working on orbital simulations during early modeling adopted the informal shorthand “G0-RK151,” a name that has since been picked up in internal reports and draft submissions. The reason for the name choice is unclear, though multiple sources indicate it originated as a placeholder that simply stuck.

Several astronomers familiar with the project have commented off the record that the designation is “a bit unconventional, but easy to remember.” The name has already begun circulating in independent datasets and university observatories ahead of peer-reviewed publication.

Gork-151 joins a growing list of so-called “temperate terrestrial exoplanets” — planets located within the habitable zones of their stars, with Earth-like sizes and likely rocky compositions. However, what sets Gork-151 apart is the combination of its size, orbital position, stellar environment, and early atmospheric indicators.

The planet is located in a region of space frequently observed by both European and American telescopes, yet until now, no planets had been confirmed in this particular system. Its discovery underscores the ongoing importance of HARPS and VLT in detecting lower-mass planets beyond the reach of earlier-generation equipment.

Although Gork-151 is too distant for any current or near-future mission to reach, its spectral profile and environmental conditions make it an ideal target for next-generation telescopes — including the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) under construction in Chile and planned ESA-JAXA joint spectroscopic platforms launching later this decade.

image of the vLT Telescope

Whats Next?

The planet has now been flagged for high-priority follow-up using a range of instruments, including the CHEOPS space telescope, and will likely appear on the target list for upcoming James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) cycles. Observers are particularly interested in refining measurements of the planet’s atmospheric composition, rotational dynamics, and potential surface pressure.

More detailed findings are expected to be released following the summer observing season. The original HARPS dataset will be made publicly available by the end of May.

For now, Gork-151 stands as one of the most intriguing Earth-like planets ever detected — a distant, rocky world circling a quiet orange star in a corner of the galaxy we’re only beginning to understand.

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