Exoplanets

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Wade Hampton III
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Joined: Fri Oct 18, 2013 10:40 pm
Location: Pontiac, SC

Exoplanets

Post by Wade Hampton III » Tue Aug 15, 2017 3:03 pm

Studies of low-mass, ultra-cool and ultra-dim red dwarf stars have
turned up a wealth of extra-solar planets lately. These include the
discoveries of a rocky planet orbiting the closest star to the Solar
System (Proxima b) and a seven-planet system just 40 light years away
(TRAPPIST-1). In the past few years, astronomers have also detected
candidates orbiting the stars Gliese 581, Innes Star, Kepler 42,
Gliese 832, Gliese 667, Gliese 3293, and others. The majority of
these planets have been terrestrial (i.e. rocky) in nature, and
many were found to orbit within their star’s habitable zone (aka.
“goldilocks zone”). However the question whether or not these planets
are tidally-locked, where one face is constantly facing towards their
star has been an ongoing one. And according to a new study from the
University of Washington, tidally-locked planets may be more common
than previously thought.
Half-frozen Planet Tidally Locked
Half-frozen Planet Tidally Locked
48604.jpg (174.9 KiB) Viewed 1270 times
https://www.universetoday.com/136785/po ... new-study/

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