
Astronomers have recently detected a rocky planet orbiting a star outside our solar system that is unique.
What is 55 Cancri e Planet?
- A Super-Earth: 55 Cancri e is classified as a super-Earth, meaning it is larger than Earth but smaller than Neptune.
- Location: The planet is situated approximately 41 light-years away from Earth in the constellation Cancer, within our Milky Way galaxy.
- Rocky Composition: 55 Cancri e is a rocky planet considerably more massive than Earth but still smaller than Neptune in size.
- Rapid Orbit: The planet orbits extremely close to its host star, which is slightly less massive and dimmer than our sun. It completes a full orbit every 18 hours or so.
- Mass and Size: 55 Cancri e has a mass about 8.8 times that of Earth and a diameter approximately twice the size of our planet.
- Surface Temperature: Due to its exceptionally close proximity to its host star, the surface temperature of 55 Cancri e is extremely high, estimated to be around 3,140 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Tidal Locking: The planet is believed to be tidally locked with its host star, meaning that, similar to the moon's relation to Earth, one side of 55 Cancri e always faces its star.
What are Exoplanets?
- Exoplanets are planets that orbit stars other than our sun and lie outside our solar system.
- They come in various sizes, ranging from gas giants larger than Jupiter to smaller, rocky planets similar to Earth.
- Exoplanets can have a diverse range of temperatures, from boiling hot to extremely cold.