Scientists have discovered a beautiful ocean world that looks like it was ripped out of the Star Wars prequels. The exoplanet TOI-1452 b was discovered just 100 light-years from Earth. A new paper on the discovery says that the entire planet is covered by a thick layer of water and that it’s located far enough from its star to possibly support life.

The ocean world was discovered by a team of researchers at the Université de Montréal. Charles Cadieux, the team leader, announced the discovery this week. Cadieux is also a member of the Institute for Research on Exoplanets (iREx).

The planet is just slightly greater in size and mass than Earth. While the fact that this exoplanet is covered in water is intriguing, it’s also located a perfect distance out from its stars to not be too cold or hot. That means that it could potentially support life, though it’s unclear what kind of life might thrive on an ocean world such as this.

Researchers plan to use the James Webb Space Telescope for further observations.

An international team of researchers led by the University of Montreal discovered an exoplanet that could be covered entirely in water. The planet TOI-1452b is about 100 light years away from Earth, located in Draco Constellation. It’s larger in size and mass compared to Earth and is located in the “habitable zone,” which means the temperature is just right for the liquid water to exist. The team believes that it could be an “ocean planet,” a planet covered by a thick layer of water.

What’s so special about this ocean planet?

This isn’t the first time we’ve discovered an exoplanet or planets with water.

Two much-loved characters and some LEGO minifigures have been assigned to NASA’s Artemis I mission to the Moon. Shaun The Sheep and Snoopy are scheduled to lift-off during a two-hour window that opens at 8:33 a.m. EDT on Monday, August 29. If all goes to plan they’ll flyby the Moon and eventually return to Earth in the Orion spacecraft 42 days later.

This won’t be Snoopy’s first trip to space, having orbited Earth in a Space Shuttle in 1990. Snoopy will go to space this time as a visual indicator when a spacecraft has reached the weightlessness of microgravity. Interior cameras will capture the moment when Snoopy floats.

In the abscence of humans on NASA’s Artemis-1 mission around the Moon a cute selection of pop dolls, characters and “moonikins” will go to space.

The Space Launch System is an American super heavy-lift expendable launch vehicle under development by NASA since 2011. As of April 2022, the first launch is scheduled for no earlier than August 2022, pending the success of a wet dress rehearsal test.

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The long-awaited Artemis I launch is almost here! You are invited to a Launch Watch Party at INFINITY Science Center scheduled for Monday, Aug. 29, from 7:00 – 10:00 a.m. The two-hour launch window opens at 7:33 a.m. CDT. We’ll have fun NASA activities such as coloring stations, build an Orion Capsule, draw Artemis, design your own patch, and much more!