Discovery of a 'super-Earth' 33 light-years away from us.

Scientists have just discovered a planet that is 5.4 times heavier than Earth and is quite close to us.

This "super-Earth" is located about 33 light-years from us and orbits a red dwarf star.

This exoplanet, named GJ 536 b by scientists, has a mass nearly 5.4 times that of Earth.

GJ 536 b is not within the habitable zone of its host star due to its close proximity. Its orbit is less than 9 days, according to research published in the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics.

A newly discovered "super-Earth" orbits a red dwarf star. Photo: Getty.

However, scientists are hoping to find similar planets in the vicinity with a higher chance of discovering life.

Jonay Isai Gonzalez, a member of the research team, said: "This rocky planet orbits a star that is much smaller and colder than the Sun, but it's close enough and bright enough."

The study's lead author, Alejandro Suarez Mascareno, added: "Rocky planets are often found in groups, especially globular stars of this type. We are fairly certain that other 'super-Earths' with orbits farther from their host stars could be found in intervals ranging from 100 days to several years."

"Super-Earths" is a term used to describe planets with masses ranging from 1 to 10 times that of Earth.

The discovery of "super-Earths" is often exciting for those hoping to find extraterrestrial life because, unlike gas giants, they usually have rocky surfaces and are potentially habitable.

According to Zing