Scientists discover ultra-light exoplanet 31 light years away
Daily MailAstronomers have discovered an ultra-light Exoplanet about 31 light years away that orbits its star in just eight hours. The planet, GJ 367 b, has 55 per cent the mass of Earth, making it one of the lightest planets discovered to date, researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the German Aerospace Center reveal. GJ 367b orbits a dwarf star that is about half the size of the Sun GET TO KNOW GJ 367 b Planet name: GJ 367 b Diameter: 5,560 miles Orbital period: 8 hours Distance from Earth: 31 light years Surface temperature: Up to 2,700°F Rocky or gaseous? Rocky GJ 367 b is an ultra-short period planet - a type of exoplanet with orbital period less than one day. Researchers believe the discovery of GJ 367 b around such a star points to the possibility for more planets in this system, including one or more within what's known as the 'habitable zone'.
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