IAS Gyan

Daily News Analysis

EXOPLANET

31st May, 2023 Science and Technology

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Context

  • A new Jupiter-sized exoplanet has been discovered by an international team of scientists.

Exoplanet: Key Facts

  • All of the planets in our solar system orbit around the Sun. However, our sun is just one of at least 100 billion stars in our galaxy, and most stars are thought to have one or more planets.
  • Planets that orbit around other stars are called exoplanets.
  • The first exoplanet detected was Gamma Cephei Ab in 1998.
  • The closest exoplanet to our Earth is the exoplanet, which orbits the star Proxima Centauri, located at only 4.2 light-years away from Earth.
  • It orbits in the habitable zone of its star, and there is more than one planet orbiting Proxima Centauri.
  • The first exoplanet identical to Earth was found in 2014. It is known as Kepler 186f.
  • Astronomers believe that there are over 1 billion exoplanets in our galaxy, the Milky Way.
  • The smallest exoplanet ever discovered is Kepler-37b. It is similar in size to our Moon; thus, it is smaller than the planet Mercury, which is the smallest planet in our Solar System.
  • The biggest exoplanet currently known is HAT-P-67 b. This exoplanet is a gas giant, just like Jupiter; however, it is almost twice as big. Jupiter, for example, is more than 11 times bigger than Earth.

READ: https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/exoplanet-hd106906-b

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. Consider the following statements.

a) The first exoplanet detected was Gamma Cephei Ab in 1998.

b) The closest exoplanet to our Earth is the exoplanet, which orbits the star Proxima Centauri, located at only 4.2 light-years away from Earth.

c) The smallest exoplanet ever discovered is Kepler-37b.

d) The biggest exoplanet currently known is HAT-P-67 b.

Which of the following statements are incorrect?

1.    a and c

2.    b and d

3.    b, c and d.

4.    None of the above.

Correct Answer: Option 4. (All are Correct)

 

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/science/scientists-led-by-prl-professor-discover-new-jupiter-size-exoplanet/articleshow/100609430.cms