A small exoplanet, double the Earth

2009/03/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Astronomia

Through the CoRoT mission of the French Space Agency, astronomers have discovered the least exoplanet they know so far. Little by little it does not double the Earth and is estimated to have an approximate density of terrestrial planets. Astronomers believe their orbit is very fast and very close to their star. A satellite has discovered it by the eclipse method, every time the exoplanet passes in front of the star eclipses it and the light of it loses intensity. Therefore, if the light of the star periodically loses intensity, it is a sign that it has an exoplanet around it.