Spacecraft discovers smallest exoplanet
Posted: Fri, Feb 6, 2009, 5:34 AM ET (1034 GMT)
Scientists using a European spacecraft claim to have discovered the smallest extrasolar planet to date, a world that orbits so close to its parent star its surface could be made of molten rock. Astronomers discovered the planet, COROT-Exo-7b, with the French astronomy spacecraft COROT by detecting when the planet transited across the disc of the star some 390 light-years away. The planet has a diameter about twice that of the Earth, making the planet the smallest known exoplanet in terms of diameter; it may not be the least massive exoplanet, though, with a mass currently estimated at between 5 and 11 times that of the Earth. The planet orbits so close to its star that it completes one orbit in 20 hours, implying a surface temperature of 1,000-1,500 degrees Celsius. At those temperatures, the planet could have a surface of molten rock, or be a mix of rock and water vapor.
Scientists using a European spacecraft claim to have discovered the smallest extrasolar planet to date, a world that orbits so close to its parent star its surface could be made of molten rock. Astronomers discovered the planet, COROT-Exo-7b, with the French astronomy spacecraft COROT by detecting when the planet transited across the disc of the star some 390 light-years away. The planet has a diameter about twice that of the Earth, making the planet the smallest known exoplanet in terms of diameter; it may not be the least massive exoplanet, though, with a mass currently estimated at between 5 and 11 times that of the Earth. The planet orbits so close to its star that it completes one orbit in 20 hours, implying a surface temperature of 1,000-1,500 degrees Celsius. At those temperatures, the planet could have a surface of molten rock, or be a mix of rock and water vapor.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Saturday, April 26
Firefly Alpha mission slated to launch from Vandenberg SFB on Sunday morning
Lompoc Record — 9:36 am ET (1336 GMT) Vandenberg’s Next Mission: Firefly Alpha Rocket Launch on Sunday
Noozhawk — 9:35 am ET (1335 GMT) Space Systems Command Expands Commercial Space Vehicle Processing Capacity
US Space Force — 9:35 am ET (1335 GMT) Gayle King Is “Not Focusing” on Blue Origin Backlash and Would “Consider” Going Back to Space: “I’m Definitely Open to It”
Hollywood Reporter — 9:32 am ET (1332 GMT) Blue Origin Flight ‘Really Was a Dream Come True’ for Katy Perry Despite Fan Backlash Over Stunt
In Touch — 9:32 am ET (1332 GMT) |
