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
|
|
Senate committee advances Isaacman nomination to lead NASA
Posted: Sun, May 4 10:23 AM ET (1423 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Thursday, May 8
Industry Leader and Longtime Hughes CEO Pradman Kaul Dies
ViaSatellite — 6:50 am ET (1050 GMT) Elon Musk's Starlink gets govt nod in India for satcom service: What it means for users, pricing and more
Business Today — 6:48 am ET (1048 GMT) Elon Musk's internet company Starlink gets India approval: What does this mean? What services will you get? Explained
livemint — 6:48 am ET (1048 GMT) Elon Musk’s Starlink gets Indian regulatory go-ahead for satcom services
The Economic Times (India) — 6:45 am ET (1045 GMT) These students built a rocket, a satellite — and a national reputation
CSU Long Beach — 6:43 am ET (1043 GMT) |
