Kepler-37b is an extrasolar planet (exoplanet) orbiting Kepler-37 in the constellation Lyra. To date (February, 2013), it is the smallest extrasolar planet ever discovered around a main sequence star, with a mass and radius slightly greater than that of Earth's Moon.[1]
Discovery
Kepler-37b, along with two other planets, Kepler-37c and Kepler-37d, were discovered by the Kepler space telescope, which observes stellar transits.[2][3] After observing transits of the planet, astronomers had to compare it with the size of the parent star using asteroseismology,[4] which allowed the size of the planet to be determined "with extreme accuracy" by comparing it to the size of the star.[2] Kepler-37 is currently the smallest star to be studied using this process.[2] To date, the planet is the smallest discovered around a main sequence star[note 1] outside the solar system.[1] 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".[2]
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 Vorlage:Convert.[4] NASA states that it is most probable that the planet does not have an atmosphere and cannot support life.[2] Furthermore, the planet is most likely composed of rocky materials.[2] Due to the short distance to its star, the planet's mean temperature is estimated to be around 425 °C (800 °F).[2]
Orbital properties
The closest known planet to its parent star, Kepler-37b orbits it at a distance of about 15 million km (9.3 million miles) with a period of roughly 13 days.[1] The outer two planets in the system have orbital periods[3] within one per cent of 8:5 and 3:1 commensurabilities (ratios) to Kepler-37b's period.
See also
Notes
References
Vorlage:S-start Vorlage:S-ach Vorlage:S-bef Vorlage:S-ttl Vorlage:S-aft Vorlage:S-end
- ↑ a b c Tiniest Planet Yet Discovered by NASA Outside our Solar System. scienceworldreport.com, 21. Februar 2013, abgerufen am 21. Februar 2013.
- ↑ a b c d e f g NASA's Kepler Mission Discovers Tiny Planet System. NASA, 20. Februar 2013, abgerufen am 21. Februar 2013.
- ↑ a b T. Barclay, J. F. Rowe, J. J. Lissauer, D. Huber, F. Fressin, S. B. Howell, S. T. Bryson, W. J. Chaplin, J.-M. Désert: A sub-Mercury-sized exoplanet. In: Nature. 20. Februar 2013, ISSN 0028-0836, doi:10.1038/nature11914 (nature.com [abgerufen am 21. Februar 2013]).
- ↑ a b Astronomers Find the Tiniest Exoplanet Yet. Slate, 20. Februar 2013, abgerufen am 21. Februar 2013.
- ↑ NASA, using Kepler space telescope, finds smallest planet yet. Los Angeles Times, 20. Februar 2013, abgerufen am 21. Februar 2013.
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