Aug. 7, 2009 -- The smallest planet yet detected outside our solar system appears to have a solid surface, European astronomers said. In a paper to be published in the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics, the European team described the exoplanet CoRoT-7b, a so-called Super-Earth, which has a diameter approximately twice that of Earth. The astronomers said the planet orbits its star once every 20 hours, making it the shortest orbital period yet detected. Because of its close proximity to the star, it has a surface temperature between 1000 degrees Celsius and 1500 degrees Celsius, and does not appear to have a significant hydrogen atmosphere. The team said the exoplanet's size and mass are compatible with it having a rocky surface. Related Content:
But they said the results need further confirmation. CoRoT-7b was detected more than a year ago using the French COROT telescope, which orbits about 900 kilometers above the Earth. It detects exoplanets by measuring the dimming of light that occurs as a planet transits across its parent star. The team spent the past year using ground-based telescopes, including the Anglo-Australian Telescope in north-western New South Wales, to confirm the find. Get More NewsSpiders, Scorpions Among World's Oldest CreaturesMany creepy crawlies have been on Earth much longer than previously believed.Blood-Sucking Vampire Bats Sing DuetsWhite-winged vampire bats "harmonize" with separated roost mates.Oldest Hebrew Writing Possibly FoundAncient inscriptions on a 3,000-year-old pottery shard could make history.Rare, Prehistoric-Age Reptile Found in N.Z.A tuatara has been spotted on the New Zealand mainland for the first time in 200 years.Iceman Has No Living RelativesOetzi, the 5,300 year-old frozen mummy, left no living genetic legacy.SLIDE SHOW: Landscapes of TerrorWhat makes a place feel scary? There are scientific explanations.It's Official: People Are Warming the PolesHumans are conclusively to blame for polar warming, say scientists.Eight-Armed Animal Preceded DinosaursWhat may be one of Earth's first animals was no bigger than a coaster and had eight arms.Phoenicians Live on in People's GenesOne in 17 Mediterranean men may be descended from ancient Phoenicians.Pesticides, Fertilizers Linked to Frog DeclineA pesticide is found to promote parasites among amphibians.Hubble Telescope Taking Photos AgainThe Hubble Space Telescope is once again snapping stunning photos of the universe.Andean Mummy Hairs Show Hallucinogen UseScientists find direct evidence of hallucinogenic drug use among ancient Andeans.Opals on Mars Reveal Planet's Long Wet PastOpals found on Mars suggest the planet has been wet for much longer. |
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