Earth System Science News

09 Apr, 2008

Scientists find smallest exoplanet yet

Posted by: RSS In: Msnbc.com

An artist's concept of the Neptune-sized planet GJ436b (right) orbiting an M dwarf star, Gliese 436, at a distance of only 3 million miles. With a density similar to that of Neptune, the exoplanet is an ice giant and probably has a rocky core and lots of water that forms ice in the interior under high pressure and temperature. 

 

Scientists say they have found the smallest planet detected to date outside our solar system - and that they’re just “a few years” away from being able to spot Earth-size planets.


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