Astronomer uncovers the hidden identity of an exoplanet
Monday, July 1, 2013 - 15:00
in Astronomy & Space
(Phys.org) —Hovering about 70 light-years from Earth –– that's "next door" by astronomical standards –– is a star astronomers call HD 97658, which is almost bright enough to see with the naked eye. But the real "star" is the planet HD 97658b, not much more than twice the Earth's diameter and a little less than eight times its mass. HD 97658b is a super-Earth, a class of planet for which there is no example in our home solar system.