Super Earth is a hot water world

February 22, 2012 09:57
Super Earth is a hot water world

Scientists have discovered a supposedly an Earth’s twin which is just a hot water world. Temperatures and the reason for this heat are studied further.

Researchers at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics planet had recently discovered GJ1214b planet. They felt, after observation that the planet is filled with hot water. They are of an impression as of now that it is a hot water world.

The planet is "a waterworld enshrouded by a thick, steamy atmosphere," they said in a statement, after scrutinizing the planet with NASA's Hubble Space Telescope. "GJ1214b is like no planet we know of," astronomer Zachary Berta said. "A huge fraction of its mass is made up of water."  GJ1214b was discovered in 2009 by the ground-based MEarth Project, described as a "super-Earth."

Though not exactly Earth’s twin: It’s about six times bigger, a whole lot hotter and made mostly of water. But compared to the giant gas balls that account for nearly every other extra solar planet ever found, it’s pretty darn close. And through a fortunate happenstance of cosmic geometry, astronomers will be able to study GJ 1214b in great detail. “If you want to describe in one sentence what this planet is, it’s a big, hot ocean,” said Harvard University astronomer David Charbonneau. “We can even study its atmosphere. This planet will occupy us for years. That’s part of what’s so exciting about it.” (With inputs from internet: AarKay

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