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| Diameter | 0 km 0 miles |
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| Mass | >0.01 M⊕[1] <6 M⊕[2][3][lower-alpha 1] kg |
Kepler-37b is an extrasolar planet (exoplanet) orbiting Kepler-37 in the constellation Lyra.[4] Template:As of it is the smallest planet discovered around a main-sequence star, with a radius slightly greater than that of the Moon.[5] The measurements do not constrain its mass, but masses above a few times that of the Moon give unphysically high densities.[3]
Discovery[]
A size comparison of the planets in the Kepler-37 system and objects in the Solar System
Kepler-37b, along with two other planets, Kepler-37c and Kepler-37d, were discovered by the Kepler space telescope, which observes stellar transits.[6][7] After observing transits of Kepler-37b, astronomers had to compare it with the size of the parent star.
The size of the star was obtained using asteroseismology;Template:Clarify[8] Kepler-37 is currently the smallest star to be studied using this process.[7] This allowed the size of Kepler-37b to be determined "with extreme accuracy".[7]
To date, Kepler-37b is the smallest planet discovered around a main-sequence star[lower-alpha 2] outside the Solar System.[5] Detection of Kepler-37b was possible due to its short orbital period, relative brightness, and low activity of its host star, allowing brightness data to average out quickly.[9] The discovery of Kepler-37b has led Jack Lissauer, a scientist at NASA's Ames Research Center, to conjecture that "such little planets are common".[7]
Properties[]
Physical[]
Kepler-37b is located approximately 210 light-years from Earth.[10] It is slightly larger than the Moon, with a diameter of about Script error: No such module "convert"..[8] NASA states that it probably has no atmosphere and cannot support life.[7] Furthermore, it is most likely composed of rocky materials.[7] Because it is so close to its star (Mercury is more than three times as far from the Sun), Kepler-37b's mean temperature is estimated to be around Script error: No such module "convert"..[7]
Orbital[]
The innermost known planet in its system, Kepler-37b, orbits its parent star at a distance of about 15 million kilometers (9.3 million miles), with a period of roughly 13 days.[5] The outer two planets in the system have orbital periods[6][11] within one percent of the 8:5 and 3:1 resonances with Kepler-37b's period.
See also[]
- List of planets discovered by the Kepler spacecraft
Notes[]
- ↑ http://kepler.nasa.gov/news/index.cfm?FuseAction=ShowNews&NewsID=256
- ↑ http://exoplanet.eu/catalog/kepler-37b/
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 [1]
- ↑ Smallest Alien Planet Kepler-37b Explained (Infographic)
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Tiniest Planet Yet Discovered by NASA Outside our Solar System. scienceworldreport.com (February 21, 2013). Retrieved on February 21, 2013.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 (2013-02-20)"A sub-Mercury-sized exoplanet". Nature (journal) 494 (7438): 452–4. DOI:10.1038/nature11914. Retrieved on 2013-02-21.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 NASA's Kepler Mission Discovers Tiny Planet System. NASA (February 20, 2013). Retrieved on February 21, 2013.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Astronomers Find the Tiniest Exoplanet Yet. Slate (February 20, 2013). Retrieved on February 21, 2013.
- ↑ Centauri Dreams - Small Planets Confirm Kepler’s Capabilities
- ↑ NASA, using Kepler space telescope, finds smallest planet yet. Los Angeles Times (February 20, 2013). Retrieved on February 21, 2013.
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
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References[]
Templates[]
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