Kepler discovers rocky exoplanet
Posted: Tue, Jan 11, 2011, 7:43 AM ET (1243 GMT)
Scientists announced Monday the discovery of the first "unequivocally rocky" extrasolar planet with a density similar to iron. The planet, designated Kepler-10b, is about 1.4 times the diameter of the Earth but 4.6 times the mass, giving it a density of 8.8 grams per cubic centimeter. That density, scientists said, means the planet is certainly a rocky world, and not a gaseous planet. NASA's Kepler spacecraft detected the planet by observing brief, periodic decreases in brightness as the planet transited across the star's disk as seen from the spacecraft. The planet orbits very closely to the star, completing one orbit in just over 20 hours, giving it an estimated surface temperature of 1,500 degrees Celsius.
Scientists announced Monday the discovery of the first "unequivocally rocky" extrasolar planet with a density similar to iron. The planet, designated Kepler-10b, is about 1.4 times the diameter of the Earth but 4.6 times the mass, giving it a density of 8.8 grams per cubic centimeter. That density, scientists said, means the planet is certainly a rocky world, and not a gaseous planet. NASA's Kepler spacecraft detected the planet by observing brief, periodic decreases in brightness as the planet transited across the star's disk as seen from the spacecraft. The planet orbits very closely to the star, completing one orbit in just over 20 hours, giving it an estimated surface temperature of 1,500 degrees Celsius.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
New Virgin Galactic spaceplane arrives at Spaceport America
Posted: Sat, Oct 31 10:38 AM ET (1438 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Wednesday, November 4
10 asteroid mysteries that Hera will explore
ESA — 5:56 am ET (1056 GMT) Time to wake up MetOp-SG-B1 weather satellite
ESA — 5:55 am ET (1055 GMT) Russia’s Starlink Rival Is Already Getting a Secret Upgrade After Its Last Satellites Ran Into Trouble
United24 Media — 5:54 am ET (1054 GMT) Germany arrests suspected mastermind of Starlink station arson in Poland
TVP World — 5:54 am ET (1054 GMT) US Space Force Guardians will join Army Rangers, Navy SEALS, and other special forces in a new command
Business Insider — 5:52 am ET (1052 GMT) |
