New rocky planet discovered in orbit around nearby star

June 14, 2005 

A new Earth-like planet, called Gliese 876 d, has been discovered orbiting a star called Gliese 876 about 15 light years from Earth. It is the first rocky planet to be discovered orbiting a star, although three other rocky planets have in the past been discovered in orbit around a pulsar. There are two other gaseous, Jupiter-like planets in orbit around the same star. 
"This is the smallest extrasolar planet yet detected and the first of a new class of rocky terrestrial planets," said Paul Butler of the Carnegie Institution, one of the teams that discovered the new planet. "It's like Earth's bigger cousin." 
The newly discovered world has about 7½ times the mass of Earth. Its orbital period, or "year", is a mere 2 days in length and its path takes it 10 times closer to its star than the closest planet is to our Sun. The temperature on the surface is estimated between 400 to 750 degrees Fahrenheit (200 to 400 degrees Celsius), and is too hot for life forms that are similar to those found on Earth.
New rocky planet discovered in orbit around nearby star June 14 , 2005 A new Earth - like planet , called Gliese 876 d , has been discovered orbiting a star called Gliese 876 about 15 light years from Earth . It is the first rocky planet to be discovered orbiting a star , although three other rocky planets have in the past been discovered in orbit around a pulsar . There are two other gaseous , Jupiter - like planets in orbit around the same star . " This is the smallest extrasolar planet yet detected and the first of a new class of rocky terrestrial planets , " said Paul Butler of the Carnegie Institution , one of the teams that discovered the new planet . " It 's like Earth 's bigger cousin . " The newly discovered world has about 7½ times the mass of Earth . Its orbital period , or " year " , is a mere 2 days in length and its path takes it 10 times closer to its star than the closest planet is to our Sun . The temperature on the surface is estimated between 400 to 750 degrees Fahrenheit ( 200 to 400 degrees Celsius ) , and is too hot for life forms that are similar to those found on Earth .
New rocky planet
np0
orbit
np1
nearby star
np2
A new Earth-like planet
np3
Gliese
np4
a star
np5
Earth
np6
the first rocky planet
np7
a star
np8
three other rocky planets
np9
the past
np10
orbit
np11
a pulsar
np12
two other gaseous, Jupiter-like planets
np13
orbit
np14
the same star
np15
the smallest extrasolar planet
np16
a new class
np17
rocky terrestrial planets
np18
Paul Butler
np19
the Carnegie Institution
np20
the teams
np21
the new planet
np22
Earth's bigger cousin
np23
The newly discovered world
np24
about 7½ times the mass
np25
Earth
np26
Its orbital period
np27
year
np28
a mere 2 days
np29
length
np30
its path
np31
its star
np32
the closest planet
np33
our Sun
np34
The temperature
np35
the surface
np36
between 400 to 750 degrees
np37
Fahrenheit
np38
200 to 400 degrees Celsius
np39
life forms
np40
Earth
np41