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> Gliese 1214 b

Gliese 1214 b

author: Ron Miller/Novapix

reference: a-exo99-30301

Image Size 300 DPI: 23 * 18 cm

Gliese 1214 b is an extrasolar planet that orbits the star Gliese 1214. The parent star is 13 parsecs (approximately 40 light-years) from the Sun, in the constellation Ophiuchus. The planet was discovered in December 2009. It is classified as a super-Earth because it is larger than Earth but has a mass and radius significantly less than those of the gas giants in the Solar System. After COROT-7b, it is the second such planet to be known and is the first of a new class of planets with small size and relatively low density.

Keywords for this photo:

2012 - ASTRONOMY - ATMOSPHERE - EXOPLANET - EXTRASOLAR PLANET - EXTRATERRESTRIAL LIFE - GJ 1214 B - GLIESE 1214 b - ILLUSTRATION - OPHIUCHUS - PLANET - SUPER-EARTH - WATER -