Kepler-37b
 | |
| Discovery[1] | |
|---|---|
| Discovery date | February 20, 2013[1] |
| Transit | |
| Orbital characteristics | |
| 0.1003 AU[2] | |
| 13.367308 d[1] | |
| Inclination | 88.63°[2] |
| Physical characteristics | |
Mean radius | 0.303 R⊕[2] |
| Mass | ≥0.01 M⊕ |
| Temperature | 700 K[3] |
Kepler-37b is an exoplanet orbiting Kepler-37 in the constellation Lyra. To date, it is the smallest exoplanet ever discovered, with a mass slightly larger than that of Earth's Moon.[4]
Discovery
Kepler-37b, along with two other planets, Kepler-37c and Kepler-37d, were discovered by the Kepler space telescope, which observes stellar transits.[3][1] To obtain an accurate size of the planet, astronomers had to compare it with the size of the parent star using asteroseismology,[3] and Kepler-37 is the smallest star studied using this process.[3] These studies have allowed the planet's size to be obtained with "extreme accuracy".[3] To date, the planet is the smallest discovered outside the solar system.[4] That a planet like Kepler-37b has been discovered suggests, to Jack Lissauer, a scientist at NASA's Ames Research Center, that "such little planets are common".[3]
Physical properties
The planet, about 210 light-years away from Earth,[5] is slightly larger than the Earth's moon, with a diameter of about 3,900 kilometres (2,400 mi).[6] NASA states that it is most probable that the planet does not have an atmosphere and cannot support life.[3] Furthermore, the planet is most likely composed of rocky materials.[3] Due to the short distance to its star, the planet's mean temperature is estimated to be around 425 C (800 F).[3]
Orbital properties
Being the closest planet to its parent star, Kepler-37b has an orbit of about 13 days.[4] The outer two planets in the system have orbital periods[1] within one per cent of 8:5 and 3:1 commensurabilities (ratios) to Kepler-37b's period.
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e Barclay, T.; Rowe, J. F.; Lissauer, J. J.; Huber, D.; Fressin, F.; Howell, S. B.; Bryson, S. T.; Chaplin, W. J.; Désert, J.-M.; Lopez, E. D.; Marcy, G. W.; Mullally, F.; Ragozzine, D.; Torres, G.; Adams, E. R.; Agol, E.; Barrado, D.; Basu, S.; Bedding, T. R.; Buchhave, L. A.; Charbonneau, D.; Christiansen, J. L.; Christensen-Dalsgaard, J.; Ciardi, D.; Cochran, W. D.; Dupree, A. K.; Elsworth, Y.; Everett, M.; Fischer, D. A.; Ford, E. B.; Fortney, J. J.; Geary, J. C.; Haas, M. R.; Handberg, R.; Hekker, S.; Henze, C. E.; Horch, E.; Howard, A. W.; Hunter, R. C.; Isaacson, H.; Jenkins, J. M.; Karoff, C.; Kawaler, S. D.; Kjeldsen, H.; Klaus, T. C.; Latham, D. W.; Li, J.; Lillo-Box, J.; Lund, M. N.; Lundkvist, M.; Metcalfe, T. S.; Miglio, A.; Morris, R. L.; Quintana, E. V.; Stello, D.; Smith, J. C.; Still, M.; Thompson, S. E. (2013-02-20). "A sub-Mercury-sized exoplanet". Nature. doi:10.1038/nature11914. ISSN 0028-0836. Retrieved 2013-02-21.
- ^ a b c "Kepler-37 System". kepler.nasa.gov. Retrieved February 21, 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "NASA's Kepler Mission Discovers Tiny Planet System". NASA. February 20, 2013. Retrieved February 21, 2013.
- ^ a b c "Tiniest Planet Yet Discovered by NASA Outside our Solar System". scienceworldreport.com. February 21, 2013. Retrieved February 21, 2013.
- ^ "NASA, using Kepler space telescope, finds smallest planet yet". Los Angeles Times. February 20, 2013. Retrieved February 21, 2013.
- ^ "Astronomers Find the Tiniest Exoplanet Yet". Slate. February 20, 2013. Retrieved February 21, 2013.