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

The BNR’s QSL cards for 2025 present the beauty of Bulgaria

Dear friends, we are happy to announce that the Bulgarian National Radio’s QSL cards for 2025 are now available. The two series – one with 6 postcards and the other with 12 postcards – are entitled "The Beauty of Bulgaria." The series of 6 cards..

published on 1/21/25 10:12 AM
Screening of a science documentary on an aviation theme in front of museum visitors

Airplanes, seaplanes and space food – stories from the skies collected in the Aviation Museum near Plovdiv

From the first attempts to fly with homemade wings back in the 19th century, to the world's first combat flights with reconnaissance and bombing purposes. From the first successful landing of an airplane with a stopped engine in history, to the world's..

published on 1/20/25 12:48 PM

Ancient ritual "Bathing" to be recreated in Kula

On the night of 19-20 January - the celebration of Yordanovden (Epiphany) and Ivanovden (St. John's Day) in the Julian calendar - the northwestern town of Kula will host the traditional "Kapachi" ("Bathing") ritual. This is a unique event, with a..

published on 1/19/25 8:15 AM