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

New cultural-gastronomic center showcases Bulgarian culinary tradition in Romania

The Bulgarian minority in Romania marked a significant event with the official opening of the Bulgarian Inn in the village of Izvoarele (Hanul Bilgarilor), Teleorman County (Southern Romania)- a locality with Bulgarian roots dating back over 200 years...

published on 11/30/25 6:00 AM

The DiVino.Taste forum showcases new and exciting wines from across Bulgaria

The 14th edition of DiVino.Taste, Bulgaria’s leading forum for wines and winemakers, will take place from 28 to 30 November at the Inter Expo Centre in Sofia. Over 80 producers from all wine regions will participate, offering tastings of around 600 of the..

published on 11/28/25 9:05 AM

After massive protest in front of parliament building the ruling coalition freezes budget for 2026

Minutes before the second and final reading, at the parliamentary budget and finance committee, of the state budget for 2026, the leader of the biggest party represented in parliament GERB Boyko Borissov halted the procedure and sent the draft bill..

updated on 11/27/25 2:52 PM