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Sep. 16th, 2009
First rocky exoplanet confirmed
Sep. 16th, 2009 06:41 pmhttp://spacefellowship.com/2009/09/16/smallest-exoplanet-is-shown-to-be-a-solid-rocky-world/
Size determined by photometry (eclipsing), orbital period and mass determined by doppler radial velocity measurements, resulting computed density = rocky planet!
Of course, with an orbital period of 20.4 hours and 2.5 million KM from the star, it's well outside the habitable zone; it's a scorched rock. But as close-in planets are more likely to eclipse their sun, those were likely to be the first ones confirmed.
Size determined by photometry (eclipsing), orbital period and mass determined by doppler radial velocity measurements, resulting computed density = rocky planet!
Of course, with an orbital period of 20.4 hours and 2.5 million KM from the star, it's well outside the habitable zone; it's a scorched rock. But as close-in planets are more likely to eclipse their sun, those were likely to be the first ones confirmed.