Exoplanet GJ 1214b
February 22, 2012
GJ1214b, shown in this artist’s view, is a super-Earth orbiting a red dwarf star 40 light-years from Earth. New observations from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope show that it is a waterworld enshrouded by a thick, steamy atmosphere. GJ 1214b represents a new type of planet, like nothing seen in the Solar System or any other planetary system currently known.
Credit: NASA, ESA, and D. Aguilar (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics)
Credit: NASA, ESA, and D. Aguilar (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics)
Topics:
Environment, Technology Internet, Space, European Space Agency, Astronomy, Outline of astronomy, Lockheed Corporation, Methods of detecting extrasolar planets, Extrasolar planet, Hubble Space Telescope, Planet, Space exploration
