Extrasolar "waterworld" discovered
Posted: Thu, Dec 17, 2009, 6:21 AM ET (1121 GMT)
Astronomers announced Wednesday the discovery of a super-Earth exoplanet that they believe is a watery, if inhospitable, world. Researchers reporting in the latest issue of the journal Nature announced the discovery of the planet orbiting GJ1214, a red dwarf star 40 light-years away. The planet is about 6.5 times the mass of the Earth and orbits the star every 38 hours, creating a surface temperature of 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Astronomers believe that the planet is likely surrounded by a dense atmosphere with a rocky, perhaps molten surface, but with an interior of water ice. Astronomers detected the planet using an array of small telescopes, similar to what's commercially available for amateur astronomers, that detected the change in brightness of the star as the planet transited in front of it as seen from the Earth.
Astronomers announced Wednesday the discovery of a super-Earth exoplanet that they believe is a watery, if inhospitable, world. Researchers reporting in the latest issue of the journal Nature announced the discovery of the planet orbiting GJ1214, a red dwarf star 40 light-years away. The planet is about 6.5 times the mass of the Earth and orbits the star every 38 hours, creating a surface temperature of 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Astronomers believe that the planet is likely surrounded by a dense atmosphere with a rocky, perhaps molten surface, but with an interior of water ice. Astronomers detected the planet using an array of small telescopes, similar to what's commercially available for amateur astronomers, that detected the change in brightness of the star as the planet transited in front of it as seen from the Earth.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
Starship explodes during preparations for static-fire test
Posted: Sun, Jun 22 6:52 AM ET (1052 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Monday, June 30
Starlink subscriptions drops 11% in Kenya as Safaricom 5G routers win over users
Techcabal — 5:42 am ET (0942 GMT) Citizens file appeal against 40 Starlink satellite antennae planned in Swiss village
Swissinfo — 5:41 am ET (0941 GMT) Can Starlink stay ahead in satellite internet?
NPR — 5:41 am ET (0941 GMT) Blue Origin successfully launches latest human flight from West Texas
KTSM-TV El Paso — 5:39 am ET (0939 GMT) Blue Origin N-S 33 lifts off
KVIA-TV El Paso, TX — 5:39 am ET (0939 GMT) |
