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{{Short description|Type of exoplanet}}
] itself to the right for comparison]]
A '''super-Earth''' is an ] with a mass higher than ]'s, but substantially below the mass of the Solar System's smaller ]s ] and ], which are 15 and 17 Earth masses respectively.<ref name="Valencia">


{{about|the planet type|the fictional polity|Helldivers|and|Helldivers II}}
] (center) in comparison with ] and ]]]
A '''Super-Earth''' or '''super-terran''' or '''super-tellurian''' is a type of ] with a mass higher than ], but substantially below those of the Solar System's ]s, ] and ], which are 14.5 and 17.1 times Earth's, respectively.<ref name="Valencia">
{{cite journal {{cite journal
|last=Valencia |first=V. |last1=Valencia |first1=V.
|last2=Sasselov |first2=D. D. |last2=Sasselov |first2=D. D.
|last3=O'Connell |first3=R. J. |last3=O'Connell |first3=R. J.
|year=2007 |date=2007
|title=Radius and structure models of the first super-earth planet |title=Radius and structure models of the first super-earth planet
|url=http://www.iop.org/EJ/article/0004-637X/656/1/545/65923.html
|journal=] |journal=]
|volume=656 |issue=1 |pages=545–551 |volume=656 |issue=1 |pages=545–551
Line 14: Line 15:
|bibcode=2007ApJ...656..545V |bibcode=2007ApJ...656..545V
|doi=10.1086/509800 |doi=10.1086/509800
|s2cid=17656317
}}</ref> The term ''super-Earth'' refers only to the mass of the planet, and does not imply anything about the surface conditions or habitability. The alternative term "gas dwarfs" may be more accurate for those at the higher end of the mass scale, as suggested by MIT professor ], although in actual parlance, ]s seems more common.
}}</ref> The term "super-Earth" refers only to the mass of the planet, and so does not imply anything about the surface conditions or ]. The alternative term "gas dwarfs" may be more accurate for those at the higher end of the mass scale, although "]s" is a more common term.


== Definition == == Definition ==
]<ref>{{cite web|title=Newly Discovered Exoplanet May be Best Candidate in Search for Signs of Life - Transiting rocky super-Earth found in habitable zone of quiet red dwarf star|url=https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso1712/|website=www.eso.org|access-date=19 April 2017}}</ref>]]
In general, super-Earths are defined exclusively by their ], and the term does not imply temperatures, compositions, orbital properties, habitability, or environments similar to that of Earth. A variety of specific mass values are cited in definitions of super-Earths. While sources generally agree on an upper bound of 10 ]es,<ref name="Valencia"/><ref name="Fortney">

In general, super-Earths are defined by their ]es. The term does not imply temperatures, compositions, orbital properties, habitability, or environments. While sources generally agree on an upper bound of 10 ]es<ref name="Valencia"/><ref name="Fortney">
{{cite journal {{cite journal
|last=Fortney |first=J. J. |last1=Fortney |first1=J. J.
|last2=Marley |first2=M. S. |last2=Marley |first2=M. S.
|last3=Barnes |first3=J. W. |last3=Barnes |first3=J. W.
|year=2007 |date=2007
|title=Planetary Radii across Five Orders of Magnitude in Mass and Stellar Insolation: Application to Transits |title=Planetary Radii across Five Orders of Magnitude in Mass and Stellar Insolation: Application to Transits
|journal=The Astrophysical Journal
|url=http://iopscience.iop.org/0004-637X/659/2/1661/fulltext/
|journal=The ]
|volume=659 |issue=2 |pages=1661–1672 |volume=659 |issue=2 |pages=1661–1672
|arxiv=astro-ph/0612671 |arxiv=astro-ph/0612671
|bibcode=2007ApJ...659.1661F |bibcode=2007ApJ...659.1661F
|doi=10.1086/512120 |doi=10.1086/512120
|citeseerx=10.1.1.337.1073
}}</ref><ref name="Charbonneau-GJ1214b">
|s2cid=3039909
}}</ref><ref name="Charbonneau-GJ1214b">
{{cite journal {{cite journal
|last1=Charbonneau |first1=D. |last1=Charbonneau |first1=D.
|display-authors=etal
|coauthors=''et al.''
|year=2009 |date=2009
|title=A super-Earth transiting a nearby low-mass star |title=A super-Earth transiting a nearby low-mass star
|journal=] |journal=]
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|pmid=20016595 |pmid=20016595
|issue=7275 |issue=7275
|s2cid=4360404
}}</ref> (~69% of the mass of ], which is the Solar System gas giant with the least mass), the lower bound varies from 1<ref name="Valencia"/> or 1.9<ref name="Charbonneau-GJ1214b"/> to 5,<ref name="Fortney"/> with various other definitions appearing in the popular media.<ref>
}}</ref> (~69% of the mass of ], which is the Solar System's giant planet with the least mass), the lower bound varies from 1<ref name="Valencia"/> or 1.9<ref name="Charbonneau-GJ1214b"/> to 5,<ref name="Fortney"/> with various other definitions appearing in the popular media.<ref>
{{cite web {{cite web
|last=Spotts |first=P. N. |last=Spotts |first=P. N.
|date=28 April 2007 |date=28 April 2007
|url=http://www.thespec.com/article/230469 |url=http://www.thespec.com/news-story/2157544-canada-s-orbiting-telescope-tracks-mystery-super-earth-/
|title=Canada's orbiting telescope tracks mystery 'super Earth' |title=Canada's orbiting telescope tracks mystery 'super Earth'
|work=] |work=]
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151106163443/http://www.thespec.com/news-story/2157544-canada-s-orbiting-telescope-tracks-mystery-super-earth-/
|accessdate=2012-04-28
|archive-date=2015-11-06
}}</ref><ref>
}}</ref><ref>
{{cite journal {{cite journal
|date=11 November 2007 |date=11 November 2007
|title=Life could survive longer on a super-Earth |title=Life could survive longer on a super-Earth
|url=http://space.newscientist.com/article/mg19626295.300-life-could-survive-longer-on-a-superearth.html |url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg19626295.300-life-could-survive-longer-on-a-superearth.html
|work=] |journal=]
|issue=2629 |issue=2629
}}</ref><ref> }}</ref><ref>
{{cite web {{cite web
|date=10 April 2008 |date = 10 April 2008
|title=A team of ICE/IEEC astronomers announces the discovery of a possible terrestrial-type exoplanet orbiting a star in the constellation of Leo |title = A team of ICE/IEEC astronomers announces the discovery of a possible terrestrial-type exoplanet orbiting a star in the constellation of Leo
|url=http://www.ice.csic.es/en/view_new.php?NID=18 |url = http://www.ice.csic.es/en/view_new.php?NID=18
|publisher=] |publisher = ]
|accessdate=2012-04-28 |access-date = 2012-04-28
|url-status = dead
}}</ref> Some authors further suggest that the term be limited to planets without a significant atmosphere, or planets that have not just atmospheres but also solid surfaces or oceans with a sharp boundary between liquid and atmosphere, which the four giant planets in our solar system do not have.<ref name="planetmodels">{{cite journal
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120301185812/http://www.ice.csic.es/en/view_new.php?NID=18
|archive-date = 1 March 2012
}}</ref> The term "super-Earth" is also used by astronomers to refer to planets bigger than Earth-like planets (from 0.8 to 1.2 Earth-radius), but smaller than ]s (from 2 to 4 Earth-radii).<ref name="Fressin et al.">
{{cite journal
|last1=Fressin |first1=François
|display-authors=etal
|date=2013
|title=The false positive rate of Kepler and the occurrence of planets
|journal=Astrophysical Journal
|volume=766
|issue=2
|arxiv= 1301.0842
|bibcode = 2013ApJ...766...81F |doi = 10.1088/0004-637X/766/2/81
|pages=81|s2cid=28106368
}}</ref><ref name="doi.org">{{cite journal | doi = 10.3847/1538-3881/aa80eb | volume=154 | issue=3 | title=The California-Kepler Survey. III. A Gap in the Radius Distribution of Small Planets | year=2017 | journal=The Astronomical Journal | page=109 | last1 = Fulton | first1 = Benjamin J. | last2 = Petigura | first2 = Erik A. | last3 = Howard | first3 = Andrew W. | last4 = Isaacson | first4 = Howard | last5 = Marcy | first5 = Geoffrey W. | last6 = Cargile | first6 = Phillip A. | last7 = Hebb | first7 = Leslie | last8 = Weiss | first8 = Lauren M. | last9 = Asher Johnson | first9 = John | last10 = Morton | first10 = Timothy D. | last11 = Sinukoff | first11 = Evan | last12 = Crossfield | first12 = Ian J. M. | last13 = Hirsch | first13 = Lea A. |display-authors=1 | arxiv = 1703.10375 | bibcode = 2017AJ....154..109F | s2cid=119339237 | doi-access=free }}</ref>
This definition was made by the ] personnel.<ref name="borucki" />

Some authors further suggest that the term Super-Earth might be limited to rocky planets without a significant atmosphere, or planets that have not just atmospheres but also solid surfaces or oceans with a sharp boundary between liquid and atmosphere, which the four giant planets in the Solar System do not have.<ref name="planetmodels">{{cite journal
|last1=Seager |first1=S. |last1=Seager |first1=S.
|last2=Kuchner |first2=M. |last2=Kuchner |first2=M.
|last3=Hier-Majumder |first3=C. A. |last3=Hier-Majumder |first3=C. A.
|last4=Militzer |first4=B. |last4=Militzer |first4=B.
|year=2007 |date=2007
|title=Mass–radius relationships for solid exoplanets |title=Mass–radius relationships for solid exoplanets
|journal=] |journal=]
|volume=669 |issue=2 |pages=1279–1297 |volume=669 |issue=2 |pages=1279–1297
|url=http://iopscience.iop.org/0004-637X/669/2/1279/fulltext/
|arxiv= 0707.2895 |arxiv= 0707.2895
|bibcode=2007ApJ...669.1279S |bibcode=2007ApJ...669.1279S
|doi=10.1086/521346 |doi=10.1086/521346
|s2cid=8369390
}}</ref> Planets above 10 Earth masses are termed ]s.<ref>
}}</ref>
{{cite book
Planets above 10 Earth masses are termed ]s,<ref name="mass/radius sold">{{cite journal | doi = 10.1086/521346 | bibcode=2007ApJ...669.1279S | volume=669 | issue=2 | title=Mass-Radius Relationships for Solid Exoplanets | year=2007 | journal=The Astrophysical Journal | pages=1279–1297 | last1 = Seager | first1 = S.| arxiv=0707.2895 | s2cid=8369390 }}</ref> ]s,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/708513|title=Astronomers find a new type of planet: The 'mega-Earth'|website=EurekAlert!}}</ref><ref name=t6x29ntnQb0/> or ]s,<ref>{{cite book
|last=Mayor |first=M.
|last1=Mayor |first1=M.
|last2=Pepe |first2=F. |last2=Pepe |first2=F.
|last3=Lovis |first3=C. |last3=Lovis |first3=C.
|last4=Oueloz |first4=D. |last4=Oueloz |first4=D.
|last5=Udry |first5=S. |last5=Udry |first5=S.
|year=2008 |date=2008
|chapter=The quest for very low-mass planets |chapter=The quest for very low-mass planets
|title=A Decade of Extrasolar Planets around Normal Stars |title=A Decade of Extrasolar Planets around Normal Stars
Line 93: Line 118:
|publisher=] |publisher=]
|isbn=978-0521897846 |isbn=978-0521897846
}}</ref> depending on whether they are mostly made of rock and ice or mostly gas.
}}</ref> By informal convention, giant planets may be subdivided into "]s" (more than 2-3 Jupiter masses up to ] mass), "Jupiters" (like ] and ], greater than 30 Earth masses), and "Neptunes" (of a mass similar to ] and ], of 10-30 Earth masses).


== Discoveries == == History and discoveries ==
] (right) in comparison with Earth]] ] (right) in comparison with Earth]]
The ] does not contain examples of this category of planets, as the largest ] in the Solar System is the Earth, and all larger planets have at least 14 times Earth's mass.


=== First super-Earth found === === First ===
] - based on 2,740 candidates orbiting 2,036 stars as of November 4, 2013 (]).]] ] based on 2,740 candidates orbiting 2,036 stars as of November 4, 2013 (])]]
The first super-Earths were discovered by ] and ] around the ] ] in 1992. The two outer planets of the system have masses approximately four times Earth—too small to be gas giants. The first super-Earths were discovered by Aleksander Wolszczan and ] around the ] ] in 1992. The two outer planets (] and ]) of the system have masses approximately four times Earth—too small to be gas giants.


The first super-Earth around a ] star was discovered by a team under Eugenio Rivera in 2005. It orbits ] and received the designation ] (two Jupiter-sized gas giants had previously been discovered in that system). It has an estimated mass of 7.5 Earth masses and a very short orbital period of just about 2 days. Due to the proximity of Gliese 876 d to its host star (a ]), it may have a surface temperature of 430–650 ]<ref> The first super-Earth around a ] star was discovered by a team under ] in 2005. It orbits ] and received the designation ] (two Jupiter-sized gas giants had previously been discovered in that system). It has an estimated mass of 7.5 Earth masses and a very short orbital period of about 2 days. Due to the proximity of Gliese 876 d to its host star (a ]), it may have a surface temperature of 430–650 ]<ref>
{{cite journal {{cite journal
|last=Rivera |first=E. |last=Rivera |first=E.
|display-authors=etal
|coauthors=''et al.''
|year=2005 |date=2005
|title=A ~7.5 {{Earth mass}} Planet Orbiting the Nearby Star, GJ 876 |title=A ~7.5 {{Earth mass}} Planet Orbiting the Nearby Star, GJ 876
|url=http://iopscience.iop.org/0004-637X/634/1/625/fulltext/
|journal=] |journal=]
|volume=634 |issue=1 |pages=625–640 |volume=634 |issue=1 |pages=625–640
Line 115: Line 138:
|bibcode=2005ApJ...634..625R |bibcode=2005ApJ...634..625R
|doi=10.1086/491669 |doi=10.1086/491669
|s2cid=14122053
}}</ref> and may support liquid water.<ref name=zhou2005>
}}</ref> and be too hot to support liquid water.<ref name=zhou2005>
{{cite journal {{cite journal
|last=Zhou |first=J.-L. |last=Zhou |first=J.-L.
|display-authors=etal
|coauthors=''et al.''
|year=2005 |date=2005
|title=Origin and Ubiquity of Short-Period Earth-like Planets: Evidence for the Sequential Accretion Theory of Planet Formation |title=Origin and Ubiquity of Short-Period Earth-like Planets: Evidence for the Sequential Accretion Theory of Planet Formation
|journal=] |journal=]
Line 126: Line 150:
|bibcode=2005ApJ...631L..85Z |bibcode=2005ApJ...631L..85Z
|doi=10.1086/497094 |doi=10.1086/497094
|s2cid=16632198
}}</ref>
}}</ref>


=== First super-Earth in habitable zone === === First in habitable zone ===
In April 2007, a team headed by ] based in Switzerland announced the discovery of two new super-Earths within the ],<ref name="udry">{{Cite journal |doi=10.1051/0004-6361:20077612 |arxiv=0704.3841 |title=The HARPS search for southern extra-solar planets XI. Super-Earths (5 and 8&nbsp;{{Earth mass}}) in a 3-planet system |journal=Astronomy & Astrophysics |volume=469 |issue=3 |pages=L43–L47 |last1=Udry |first1=Stéphane |last2=Bonfils |first2=Xavier |last3=Delfosse |first3=Xavier |last4=Forveille |first4=Thierry |last5=Mayor |first5=Michel |last6=Perrier |first6=Christian |last7=Bouchy |first7=François |last8=Lovis |first8=Christophe |last9=Pepe |first9=Francesco |last10=Queloz |first10=Didier |last11=Bertaux |first11=Jean-Loup |year=2007 |bibcode=2007A&A...469L..43U |s2cid=119144195 |url=http://exoplanet.eu/papers/udry_terre_HARPS-1.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101008120426/http://exoplanet.eu/papers/udry_terre_HARPS-1.pdf |archive-date=October 8, 2010 }}</ref> both on the edge of the ] around the star where liquid water may be possible on the surface. With ] having a mass of at least 5 Earth masses and a distance from ] of 0.073 ]s (6.8 million mi, 11 million km), it is on the "warm" edge of the habitable zone around Gliese 581 with an estimated mean temperature (without considering effects from an atmosphere) of −3 degrees Celsius with an ] comparable to ] and 40 degrees Celsius with an albedo comparable to Earth. Subsequent research suggested Gliese 581c had likely suffered a ] like Venus.
In April 2007, a team headed by ] based in ] announced the discovery of two new super-Earths around ],<ref name="udry">
{{cite journal
| last=Udry |first=S.
| coauthors=''et al.''
| year=2007
| title=The HARPS search for southern extra-solar planets XI. Super-Earths (5 and 8 {{Earth mass}}) in a 3-planet system
| url=http://www.aanda.org/articles/aa/full/2007/27/aa7612-07/aa7612-07.html
| journal=]
| volume=469 | issue=3 | pages=L43–L47
| bibcode=2007A&A...469L..43U
| doi=10.1051/0004-6361:20077612
|arxiv = 0704.3841 }}</ref> both on the edge of the ] around the star where liquid water may be possible on the surface. With ] having a mass of at least 5 Earth masses and a distance from Gliese 581 of 0.073 ]s (AU; 6.8 million mi, 11 million km), it is on the "warm" edge of the habitable zone around Gliese 581 with an estimated mean temperature (without taking into consideration effects from an atmosphere) of −3 degrees Celsius with an ] comparable to ] and 40 degrees Celsius with an albedo comparable to Earth. Subsequent research suggests Gliese 581 c has likely suffered a ] like Venus, but that its sister planet, ], does in fact lie within the star's habitable zone, with an orbit at 0.22 AU and a mass of 7.7 Earths.
].]]


].]]
=== More notable super-Earth discoveries by year ===

=== Others by year ===


==== 2006 ==== ==== 2006 ====
Two further super-Earths were discovered in 2006: ] with a mass of 5.5 Earth masses, which was found by ], and ] with a mass of 10 Earth masses.<ref name="Valencia"/> Two further possible super-Earths were discovered in 2006: ] with a mass of 5.5 Earth masses, which was found by ], and ] with a mass of 10 Earth masses.<ref name="Valencia"/>


==== 2008 ==== ==== 2008 ====
The smallest super-Earth found as of 2008 is ]. The planet was announced by astrophysicist David P. Bennett for the international ] collaboration on June&nbsp;2, 2008.<ref> The smallest super-Earth found as of 2008 was ]. The planet was announced by astrophysicist David P. Bennett for the international ] collaboration on June&nbsp;2, 2008.<ref>
{{cite journal {{cite journal
|last1=Bennett |first1=D. P. |last1=Bennett |first1=D. P.
|display-authors=etal
|coauthors=''et al.''
|year=2008 |date=2008
|title=Discovery of a Low-mass Planet Orbiting a Low-mass Star in Microlensing Event MOA-2007-BLG-192 |title=Discovery of a Low-mass Planet Orbiting a Low-mass Star in Microlensing Event MOA-2007-BLG-192
|journal=] |journal=]
|volume=40 |issue= |page=529 |volume=40 |page=529
|bibcode=2008AAS...212.1012B |bibcode=2008AAS...212.1012B
}}</ref><ref> }}</ref><ref>
{{cite journal {{cite journal
|last1=Bennett |first1=D. P. |last1=Bennett |first1=D. P.
|display-authors=etal
|coauthors=''et al.''
|title=A Low‐Mass Planet with a Possible Sub‐Stellar‐Mass Host in Microlensing Event MOA‐2007‐BLG‐192 |title=A Low-Mass Planet with a Possible Sub-Stellar-Mass Host in Microlensing Event MOA-2007-BLG-192
|journal=] |journal=]
|volume=684 |issue= |page=663 |volume=684 |issue=1
|pages=663–683
|arxiv=0806.0025 |arxiv=0806.0025
|bibcode=2008ApJ...684..663B |bibcode=2008ApJ...684..663B
|doi=10.1086/589940 |doi=10.1086/589940
|year=2008 |date=2008
|s2cid=14467194
}}</ref> This planet has approximately 3.3 Earth masses and orbits a ]. It was detected by gravitational microlensing.
}}</ref> This planet has approximately 3.3 Earth masses and orbits a ]. It was detected by gravitational microlensing.


In June 2008, European researchers announced the discovery of three super-Earths around the star ], a star that is only slightly less massive than our ]. The planets have at least the following minimum masses: 4.2, 6.7, and 9.4 times Earth's. The planets were detected by the ] method by the ] (High Accuracy Radial Velocity Planet Searcher) in ].<ref> In June 2008, European researchers announced the discovery of three super-Earths around the star ], a star that is only slightly less massive than the ]. Planets have at least the following minimum masses: 4.2, 6.7, and 9.4 times Earth's. The planets were detected by the ] method by the ] (High Accuracy Radial Velocity Planet Searcher) in ].<ref>
{{cite news {{cite news
|date=16 June 2008 |date=16 June 2008
Line 177: Line 194:
|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7457307.stm |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7457307.stm
|work=] |work=]
|accessdate=2010-05-24 |access-date=24 May 2010
}}</ref> }}</ref>


In addition, the same European research team announced a planet 7.5 times the mass of Earth orbiting the star ]. This star also has a Jupiter-like planet that orbits every three years.<ref> In addition, the same European research team announced a planet 7.5 times the mass of Earth orbiting the star ]. This star also has a Jupiter-like planet that orbits it every three years.<ref>
{{cite web {{cite web
|date=16 June 2008 |date = 16 June 2008
|title=AFP: Astronomers discover clutch of 'super-Earths' |title = AFP: Astronomers discover clutch of 'super-Earths'
|url=http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hhYYap4TAzGczvvDL51n97ryHo9A |url = http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hhYYap4TAzGczvvDL51n97ryHo9A
|publisher=] |publisher = ]
|access-date = 28 April 2012
|accessdate=20112-04-28
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080619195046/http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hhYYap4TAzGczvvDL51n97ryHo9A
|archive-date = 19 June 2008
}}</ref> }}</ref>


==== 2009 ==== ==== 2009 ====
Planet ], with a mass estimated at 4.8 Earth masses and an orbital period of only 0.853 days, was announced on 3&nbsp;February 2009. The density estimate obtained for COROT-7b points to a composition including rocky silicate minerals similar to that of the Solar System's four inner planets, a new and significant discovery.<ref name="Queloz2009">{{cite journal
] (center) in comparison with Earth and ]]]
|last=Queloz
Planet ], with a mass estimated at 4.8 Earth masses and an orbital period of only 0.853 days, was announced on 3&nbsp;February 2009. The density estimate obtained for COROT-7b points to a composition including rocky silicate minerals, similar to the four inner planets of Earth's solar system, a new and significant discovery.<ref name="Queloz2009">{{cite journal
|last=Queloz |first=D. |first=D.
|display-authors=etal
|coauthors=''et al.''
|year=2009 |date=2009
|title=The CoRoT-7 planetary system: two orbiting Super-Earths |title=The CoRoT-7 planetary system: two orbiting Super-Earths
|url=http://exoplanet.eu/papers/corot7-RV.pdf
|journal=] |journal=]
|volume=506 |issue=1 |page=303 |volume=506
|issue=1
|pages=303–319
|bibcode=2009A&A...506..303Q |bibcode=2009A&A...506..303Q
|doi=10.1051/0004-6361/200913096 |doi=10.1051/0004-6361/200913096
|doi-access=free
}}</ref> COROT-7b, discovered right after ], is the first super-Earth discovered that orbits a ] star that is ] or larger.<ref name="Howard2009">{{Cite journal
}}</ref> COROT-7b, discovered right after ], is the first super-Earth discovered that orbits a ] star that is ] or larger.<ref name="Howard2009">{{Cite journal
|last=Howard |first=A. W. |last=Howard |first=A. W.
|display-authors=etal
|coauthors=''et al.''
|title=The NASA-UC Eta-Earth Program: I. A Super-Earth Orbiting HD 7924 |title=The NASA-UC Eta-Earth Program: I. A Super-Earth Orbiting HD 7924
|journal=The ] |journal=The Astrophysical Journal
|year=2009 |date=2009
|arxiv=0901.4394 |arxiv=0901.4394
|bibcode=2009ApJ...696...75H |bibcode=2009ApJ...696...75H
|doi=10.1088/0004-637X/696/1/75 |doi=10.1088/0004-637X/696/1/75
|volume=696 |volume=696
|page=75 |issue=1
|pages=75–83
}}</ref>
|s2cid=1415310
}}</ref>


The discovery of ] with a ] of 1.9 Earth masses was announced on April 21, 2009. It is the smallest extrasolar planet discovered around a normal star and the closest in mass to Earth. Being at an orbital distance of just 0.03 AU and orbiting its star in just 3.15 days, it is not in the habitable zone,<ref name="ESO0904"> The discovery of ] with a ] of 1.9 Earth masses was announced on 21 April 2009. It was at the time the smallest extrasolar planet discovered around a normal star and the closest in mass to Earth. Being at an orbital distance of just 0.03 AU and orbiting its star in just 3.15 days, it is not in the habitable zone,<ref name="ESO0904">{{cite web
{{cite web
|date=21 April 2009 |date=21 April 2009
|title=Lightest exoplanet yet discovered |title=Lightest exoplanet yet discovered
|url=http://www.eso.org/public/outreach/press-rel/pr-2009/pr-15-09.html |url=http://www.eso.org/public/outreach/press-rel/pr-2009/pr-15-09.html
|publisher=] |publisher=]
|accessdate=2009-07-15 |access-date=15 July 2009
|archive-date=6 August 2009
}}</ref> and may have 100 times more tidal heating than Jupiter’s volcanic satellite ].<ref name="Barnes2009">
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090806065835/http://www.eso.org/public/outreach/press-rel/pr-2009/pr-15-09.html
|url-status=dead
}}</ref> and may have 100 times more tidal heating than Jupiter's volcanic satellite ].<ref name="Barnes2009">
{{cite journal {{cite journal
|last1=Barnes |first1=R. |last1=Barnes |first1=R.
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|last3=Greenberg |first3=R. |last3=Greenberg |first3=R.
|last4=Raymond |first4=S. N. |last4=Raymond |first4=S. N.
|year=2009 |date=2009
|title=Tidal Limits to Planetary Habitability |title=Tidal Limits to Planetary Habitability
|journal=] |journal=]
|volume= 700|issue= |pages=L30 |volume= 700|issue=1
|pages=L30–L33
|arxiv=0906.1785 |arxiv=0906.1785
|bibcode= 2009ApJ...700L..30B |bibcode= 2009ApJ...700L..30B
|doi=10.1088/0004-637X/700/1/L30 |doi=10.1088/0004-637X/700/1/L30
|s2cid=16695095
}}</ref>
}}</ref>


A planet found in December 2009, ], is 2.7 times as large as Earth and orbits a star much smaller and less luminous than the Sun. "This planet probably does have liquid water," said David Charbonneau, a Harvard professor of astronomy and lead author of an article on the discovery.<ref>{{cite web
Additionally, ], at 0.2 AU with a 67-day orbital period, has been confirmed to be within the habitable zone of the red dwarf star, making it the first exoplanet where the existence of liquid water is a real possibility.<ref name="ESO0904"/>
|last=Sutter

|first=J. D.
A planet found in December 2009, ], is 2.7 times as large as Earth and orbits a star much smaller and less luminous than our Sun. "This planet probably does have liquid water," said David Charbonneau, a Harvard professor of astronomy and lead author of an article on the discovery.<ref>
{{cite web
|last=Sutter |first=J. D.
|date=16 December 2009 |date=16 December 2009
|title=Scientists spot nearby 'super-Earth' |title=Scientists spot nearby 'super-Earth'
|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2009/TECH/12/16/super.earth.discovery/index.html |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2009/TECH/12/16/super.earth.discovery/index.html
|publisher=CNN |publisher=CNN
|accessdate=2010-05-24 |access-date=24 May 2010
|archive-date=6 September 2019
}}</ref> However, interior models of this planet suggest that under most conditions it does not have liquid water.<ref name="Rogers2010">
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190906155932/http://edition.cnn.com/2009/TECH/12/16/super.earth.discovery/index.html
|url-status=dead
}}</ref> However, interior models of this planet suggest that under most conditions it does not have liquid water.<ref name="Rogers2010">
{{cite journal {{cite journal
|last1=Rogers |first1=L. |last1=Rogers |first1=L.
|last2=Seager |first2= S. |last2=Seager |first2= S.
|year=2010 |date=2010
|title=Three Possible Origins for the Gas Layer on GJ 1214b |title=Three Possible Origins for the Gas Layer on GJ 1214b
|journal=] |journal=]
|volume= 716|issue= 2|page=1208 |volume= 716|issue= 2|pages=1208–1216
|arxiv=0912.3243 |arxiv=0912.3243
|bibcode= 2010ApJ...716.1208R |bibcode= 2010ApJ...716.1208R
|doi=10.1088/0004-637X/716/2/1208 |doi=10.1088/0004-637X/716/2/1208
|s2cid=15288792
}}</ref>
}}</ref>


By November 2009, a total of 30 super-Earths had been discovered, 24 of which were first observed by HARPS.<ref> By November 2009, a total of 30 super-Earths had been discovered, 24 of which were first observed by HARPS.<ref>
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|url=http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/science/10/19/space.new.planets/index.html |url=http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/science/10/19/space.new.planets/index.html
|publisher=CNN |publisher=CNN
|accessdate=2010-05-24 |access-date=24 May 2010
}}</ref> }}</ref>


==== 2010 ==== ==== 2010 ====
Discovered on January 5, 2010, a planet ] with a ] of 4.15 ]es, is the second least massive planet detected by the ].<ref> Discovered on 5 January 2010, a planet ] with a ] of 4.15 ]es, is the least massive planet detected by the ].<ref>{{cite web
{{cite web
|date=7 January 2010 |date=7 January 2010
|title=Second Smallest Exoplanet Found To Date At Keck |title=Second Smallest Exoplanet Found To Date At Keck
|url=http://keckobservatory.org/index.php/news/second_smallest_exoplanet_to_date_discovered_at_keck/ |url=http://keckobservatory.org/index.php/news/second_smallest_exoplanet_to_date_discovered_at_keck/
|publisher=] |publisher=]
|accessdate=2010-01-07 |access-date=7 January 2010
|archive-date=25 December 2014
}}</ref> The only confirmed radial velocity planet smaller than this planet is Gliese 581 e at 1.9 Earth masses (see above). On August 24 astronomers using ESO’s HARPS instrument announced the discovery of a planetary system with up to seven planets orbiting a Sun-like star, ], one of which, although not yet confirmed, has an estimated minimum mass of 1.35 ± 0.23 times that of Earth, which would be the lowest mass of any exoplanet found to date orbiting a main-sequence star.<ref name="eso2010a">
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141225140655/http://www.keckobservatory.org/index.php/news/second_smallest_exoplanet_to_date_discovered_at_keck/
|url-status=dead
}}</ref> The only confirmed radial velocity planet smaller than this planet is Gliese 581e at 1.9 Earth masses (see above). On 24 August, astronomers using ESO's HARPS instrument announced the discovery of a planetary system with up to seven planets orbiting a Sun-like star, ], one of which, although not yet confirmed, has an estimated minimum mass of 1.35 ± 0.23 times that of Earth, which would be the lowest mass of any exoplanet found to date orbiting a main-sequence star.<ref name="eso2010a">
{{cite web {{cite web
|date=24 August 2010 |date=24 August 2010
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|url=http://www.eso.org/public/news/eso1035/ |url=http://www.eso.org/public/news/eso1035/
|publisher=] |publisher=]
|accessdate=2010-08-24 |access-date=2010-08-24
}}</ref> Although unconfirmed, there is 98.6% probability that this planet does exist.<ref> }}</ref> Although unconfirmed, there is a 98.6% probability that this planet does exist.<ref>
{{Cite journal {{Cite journal
|last=Lovis |first=C. |last=Lovis |first=C.
|display-authors=etal
|coauthors=''et al.''
|year=2010 |year=2015
|title=The HARPS search for southern extra-solar planets XXVII. Up to seven planets orbiting HD 10180: probing the architecture of low-mass planetary systems |title=The HARPS search for southern extra-solar planets XXVII. Up to seven planets orbiting HD 10180: probing the architecture of low-mass planetary systems
|url=http://www.eso.org/public/archives/releases/sciencepapers/eso1035/eso1035.pdf |url=http://www.eso.org/public/archives/releases/sciencepapers/eso1035/eso1035.pdf
|journal=] |journal=]
|volume= |issue= |pages= |volume=528
|arix= |pages=A112
|doi=10.1051/0004-6361/201015577
|bibcode=
|arxiv=1411.7048
|doi=
|bibcode=2011A&A...528A.112L
}}</ref>
|s2cid=73558341
}}</ref>


The ] announced on September 29 the discovery of a fourth super-Earth (]) orbiting the ] star Gliese 581. The planet has a minimum mass 3.1 times that of Earth and a nearly circular orbit at 0.146 AU with a period of 36.6 days, placing it in the middle of the habitable zone where liquid water could exist and midway between the planets c and d. It was discovered using the radial velocity method by scientists at the University of California at Santa Cruz and the Carnegie Institution of Washington.<ref> The ] announced on 29 September the discovery of a fourth super-Earth (]) orbiting within the Gliese 581 planetary system. The planet has a minimum mass 3.1 times that of Earth and a nearly circular orbit at 0.146 AU with a period of 36.6 days, placing it in the middle of the habitable zone where liquid water could exist and midway between the planets c and d. It was discovered using the radial velocity method by scientists at the University of California at Santa Cruz and the Carnegie Institution of Washington.<ref>
{{cite news {{cite news
|last=Overbye |first=D. |last=Overbye |first=D.
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|title=New Planet May Be Able to Nurture Organisms |title=New Planet May Be Able to Nurture Organisms
|work=] |work=]
|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/30/science/space/30planet.html?hpw |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/30/science/space/30planet.html?hpw
|accessdate=2010-10-02 |access-date=2 October 2010
}}</ref><ref> }}</ref><ref>
{{Cite press {{Cite press release
|date=29 September 2010 |date=29 September 2010
|title=Newly Discovered Planet May Be First Truly Habitable Exoplanet |title=Newly Discovered Planet May Be First Truly Habitable Exoplanet
|publisher=] |publisher=]
|url=http://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=117765&org=NSF&from=news |url=https://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=117765&org=NSF&from=news
}}</ref><ref> }}</ref><ref>
{{Cite journal {{Cite journal
|last=Vogt |first=S. S. |last=Vogt |first=S. S.
|display-authors=etal
|coauthors=''et al.''
|title=The Lick-Carnegie Exoplanet Survey: A 3.1 {{Earth mass}} Planet in the Habitable Zone of the Nearby M3V Star Gliese 581 |title=The Lick-Carnegie Exoplanet Survey: A 3.1 {{Earth mass}} Planet in the Habitable Zone of the Nearby M3V Star Gliese 581
|journal=] |journal=]
|url=http://www.nsf.gov/news/newsmedia/goldilocks_planet/goldilocks_paper_gliese581.pdf |url=https://www.nsf.gov/news/newsmedia/goldilocks_planet/goldilocks_paper_gliese581.pdf
|year=2010 |date=2010
|doi=10.1088/0004-637X/723/1/954 |doi=10.1088/0004-637X/723/1/954
|bibcode=2010ApJ...723..954V |bibcode=2010ApJ...723..954V
|volume=723 |volume=723
|page=954 |issue=1
|pages=954–965
|arxiv = 1009.5733 }}</ref> However, the existence of Gliese 581 g has been questioned by another team of astronomers, and it is currently listed as unconfirmed at ].<ref>
|arxiv = 1009.5733 |s2cid=3163906
{{cite web
}}</ref> However, the existence of Gliese 581 g has been questioned by another team of astronomers, and it is currently listed as unconfirmed at ].<ref>
|url=http://exoplanet.eu/star.php?st=Gl+581
{{cite encyclopedia
|title=Star: Gl 581
|url = http://exoplanet.eu/star.php?st=Gl+581
|work=]
|title = Star: Gl 581
|accessdate=2012-04-28
|access-date = 28 April 2012
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120510094317/http://exoplanet.eu/star.php?st=Gl+581
|encyclopedia = ]
|archive-date = 10 May 2012
}}</ref> }}</ref>


==== 2011 ==== ==== 2011 ====
On 2 February, the ] released a ], including 68 candidates of approximately "Earth-size" (Rp < 1.25 Re) and 288 candidates of "super-Earth-size" (1.25 Re < Rp < 2 Re).<ref name=borucki> On 2 February, the ] released a ], including 68 candidates of approximately "Earth-size" (Rp < 1.25 Re) and 288 candidates of "super-Earth-size" (1.25 Re < Rp < 2 Re).<ref name=borucki>
{{cite journal {{cite journal
|last=Borucki |first=W. J. |last1=Borucki |first1=W. J.
|year=2011 |date=2011
|title=Characteristics of planetary candidates observed by Kepler, II: Analysis of the first four months of data |title=Characteristics of planetary candidates observed by Kepler, II: Analysis of the first four months of data
|arxiv=1102.0541 |arxiv=1102.0541
|bibcode=2011ApJ...736...19B |bibcode=2011ApJ...736...19B
|doi=10.1088/0004-637X/736/1/19 |doi=10.1088/0004-637X/736/1/19
|display-authors=etal
|last2=Koch
|journal=]
|first2=David G.
|last3=Basri
|first3=Gibor
|last4=Batalha
|first4=Natalie
|last5=Brown
|first5=Timothy M.
|last6=Bryson
|first6=Stephen T.
|last7=Caldwell
|first7=Douglas
|last8=Christensen-Dalsgaard
|first8=Jørgen
|last9=Cochran
|first9=William D.
|last10=Devore
|first10=Edna
|last11=Dunham
|first11=Edward W.
|last12=Gautier
|first12=Thomas N.
|last13=Geary
|first13=John C.
|last14=Gilliland
|first14=Ronald
|last15=Gould
|first15=Alan
|last16=Howell
|first16=Steve B.
|last17=Jenkins
|first17=Jon M.
|last18=Latham
|first18=David W.
|last19=Lissauer
|first19=Jack J.
|last20=Marcy
|first20=Geoffrey W.
|last21=Rowe
|first21=Jason
|last22=Sasselov
|first22=Dimitar
|last23=Boss
|first23=Alan
|last24=Charbonneau
|first24=David
|last25=Ciardi
|first25=David
|last26=Doyle
|first26=Laurance
|last27=Dupree
|first27=Andrea K.
|last28=Ford
|first28=Eric B.
|last29=Fortney
|first29=Jonathan
|last30=Holman
|first30=Matthew J.
|journal=The Astrophysical Journal
|volume=736 |volume=736
|issue=1
|page=19 |page=19
|s2cid=15233153
|display-authors=29
}}</ref><ref> }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal
|last=Borucki |first=William J.
{{cite arXiv
|display-authors=etal
|last=Borucki |first=W. J.
|date=20 February 2011
|year=2010
|title=Characteristics of Kepler Planetary Candidates Based on the First Data Set: The Majority are Found to be Neptune-Size and Smaller |title=Characteristics of Kepler Planetary Candidates Based on the First Data Set: The Majority are Found to be Neptune-Size and Smaller
|journal=]
|class=astro-ph.EP
|volume=728 |issue=2 |pages=117
|eprint=1006.2799
|arxiv=1006.2799 |doi=10.1088/0004-637X/728/2/117
|author2=for the Kepler Team
|issn=0004-637X |s2cid=93116
}}</ref> In addition, 54 planet candidates were detected in the "]." Six candidates in this zone were less than twice the size of the Earth <ref name=borucki/> A more recent study found that one of these candidates (KOI 326.01) is in fact much larger and hotter than first reported.<ref name=Grant>
}}</ref> In addition, 54 planet candidates were detected in the "]." Six candidates in this zone were less than twice the size of the Earth <ref name=borucki/> A more recent study found that one of these candidates (KOI 326.01) is in fact much larger and hotter than first reported.<ref name=Grant>
{{cite web {{cite web
|last=Grant |first=A. |last = Grant
|first = A.
|date=8 March 2011
|title=Exclusive: "Most Earth-Like" Exoplanet Gets Major Demotion—It Isn’t Habitable |date = 8 March 2011
|title = Exclusive: "Most Earth-Like" Exoplanet Gets Major Demotion—It Isn't Habitable
|url=http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2011/03/08/exclusive-most-earth-like-exoplanet-gets-major-demotion%e2%80%94it-isnt-habitable/ |url = http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2011/03/08/exclusive-most-earth-like-exoplanet-gets-major-demotion%e2%80%94it-isnt-habitable/
|work = ] – Blogs / 80beats
|work=
|publisher=] |publisher = ]
|access-date = 9 March 2011
|accessdate=2011-03-09
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110309132609/http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2011/03/08/exclusive-most-earth-like-exoplanet-gets-major-demotion%e2%80%94it-isnt-habitable/
|archive-date = 9 March 2011
}}</ref> Based on the latest Kepler findings, astronomer ] estimates "within a thousand light-years of Earth" there are "at least 30,000 of these habitable worlds."<ref name="Shostak"> }}</ref> Based on the latest Kepler findings, astronomer ] estimates "within a thousand light-years of Earth" there are "at least 30,000 of these habitable worlds."<ref name="Shostak">
{{cite news {{cite news
Line 424: Line 412:
|date=3 February 2011 |date=3 February 2011
|title=A Bucketful of Worlds |title=A Bucketful of Worlds
|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/seth-shostak/a-bucketful-of-worlds_b_817921.html |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/seth-shostak/a-bucketful-of-worlds_b_817921.html
|work=] |work=]
|access-date=3 February 2011
|accessdate=2011-02-03
}}</ref> Also based on the findings, the Kepler Team has estimated "at least 50 billion planets in the Milky Way" of which "at least 500 million" are in the habitable zone.<ref name="BorensteinS"> }}</ref> Also based on the findings, the Kepler Team has estimated "at least 50 billion planets in the Milky Way" of which "at least 500 million" are in the habitable zone.<ref name="BorensteinS">
{{cite news {{cite news
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|url=http://apnews.excite.com/article/20110219/D9LG45NO0.html |url=http://apnews.excite.com/article/20110219/D9LG45NO0.html
|agency=Associated Press |agency=Associated Press
|accessdate=2011-02-19 |access-date=2011-02-19
}}</ref> }}</ref>


On August 17, a potentially habitable super-Earth ] was found using the HARPS as well as a three super-Earth system ].<ref name="Pepe"> On 17 August, a potentially habitable super-Earth ] was found using the HARPS as well as a three super-Earth system ].<ref name="Pepe">
{{Cite arXiv {{Cite journal
|last=Pepe |first=F. |last=Pepe |first=F.
|date=2011
|coauthors=''et al.''
|year=2011
|title=The HARPS search for Earth-like planets in the habitable zone: I – Very low-mass planets around HD20794, HD85512 and HD192310 |title=The HARPS search for Earth-like planets in the habitable zone: I – Very low-mass planets around HD20794, HD85512 and HD192310
|eprint=1108.3447 |arxiv=1108.3447
|display-authors=etal
|class=astro-ph.EP
|doi=10.1051/0004-6361/201117055
}}</ref> On HD 85512 b, it would be habitable if it exhibits more than 50% cloud cover.<ref name="Kaltenegger">
|volume=534
|journal=Astronomy & Astrophysics
|page=A58
|bibcode=2011A&A...534A..58P|s2cid=15088852
}}</ref> On HD 85512 b, it would be habitable if it exhibits more than 50% cloud cover.<ref name="Kaltenegger">
{{Cite arXiv {{Cite arXiv
|last=Kaltenegger |first=L. |last1=Kaltenegger |first1=L.
|last2=Udry |first2=S. |last2=Udry |first2=S.
|last3=Pepe |first3=F. |last3=Pepe |first3=F.
|year=2011 |date=2011
|title=A Habitable Planet around HD 85512? |title=A Habitable Planet around HD 85512?
|class=astro-ph.EP |class=astro-ph.EP
|eprint=1108.3561 |eprint=1108.3561
}}</ref><ref> }}</ref><ref>
{{cite news {{cite encyclopedia
|title=Star: HD 20781 |title=Star: HD 20781
|url=http://exoplanet.eu/star.php?st=HD+20781 |url=http://exoplanet.eu/star.php?st=HD+20781
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005035832/http://exoplanet.eu/star.php?st=HD+20781
|work=]
|url-status=dead
|accessdate=2011-09-12
|archive-date=October 5, 2011
}}</ref> Then less than a month later, a flood of 41 new exoplanets including 10 super-Earths were announced.<ref>
|encyclopedia=]
|access-date=12 September 2011
}}</ref> Then less than a month later, a flood of 41 new exoplanets, including 10 super-Earths, were announced.<ref>
{{cite arXiv {{cite arXiv
|last=Mayor |first=M. |last=Mayor |first=M.
|date=2011
|coauthors=''et al.''
|year=2011
|title=The HARPS search for southern extra-solar planets XXXIV. Occurrence, mass distribution and orbital properties of super-Earths and Neptune-mass planets |title=The HARPS search for southern extra-solar planets XXXIV. Occurrence, mass distribution and orbital properties of super-Earths and Neptune-mass planets
|class=astro-ph |class=astro-ph
|eprint=1109.2497 |eprint=1109.2497
}}</ref> |display-authors=etal}}</ref>


On December 5, the Kepler space telescope discovered its first planet within the habitable zone or "Goldilocks region" of its Sun-like star. ] is 2.4 times the radius of the earth and occupies an orbit 15% closer to its star than the Earth to the Sun. This is compensated for however, as the star, with a spectral type ] is slightly dimmer than the Sun (G2V), and thus the surface temperatures would still allow liquid water on its surface. On 5 December 2011, the Kepler space telescope discovered its first planet within the habitable zone or "Goldilocks region" of its Sun-like star. ] is 2.4 times the radius of the Earth and occupies an orbit 15% closer to its star than the Earth to the Sun. This is compensated for, however, as the star, with a spectral type ], is slightly dimmer than the Sun (G2V). Thus, surface temperatures would still allow liquid water on its surface.


On 5 December 2011, the Kepler team announced that they had discovered 2,326 planetary candidates, of which 207 are similar in size to Earth, 680 are super-Earth-size, 1,181 are Neptune-size, 203 are Jupiter-size and 55 are larger than Jupiter. Compared to the February 2011 figures, the number of Earth-size and super-Earth-size planets increased by 200% and 140% respectively. Moreover, 48 planet candidates were found in the habitable zones of surveyed stars, marking a decrease from the February figure; this was due to the more stringent criteria in use in the December data. On 5 December 2011, the Kepler team announced that they had discovered 2,326 planetary candidates, of which 207 are similar in size to Earth, 680 are super-Earth-size, 1,181 are Neptune-size, 203 are Jupiter-size and 55 are larger than Jupiter. Compared to the February 2011 figures, the number of Earth-size and super-Earth-size planets increased by 200% and 140% respectively. Moreover, 48 planet candidates were found in the habitable zones of surveyed stars, marking a decrease from the February figure; this was due to the more stringent criteria in use in the December data.


On 2011, a density of ] was calculated which turned out to be similar to Earth's. At the size of about 2 Earth radii, it was the largest planet until 2014 which was determined to lack a significant hydrogen atmosphere.<ref name="winn11">{{cite journal | title=A Super Earth Transiting a Naked-Eye Star | author=Winn, J.N ''et al.'' | journal=Astronomy & Astrophysics | year=2008 | arxiv=1104.5230|bibcode = 2011ApJ...737L..18W |doi = 10.1088/2041-8205/737/1/L18 }}</ref><ref name="SP-20120120">{{cite web |author=Staff |title=Oozing Super-Earth: Images of Alien Planet 55 Cancri e |url=http://www.space.com/14303-images-oozing-alien-planet-55-cancri-photos.html |date=20 January 2012 |publisher=] |accessdate=2012-01-21 }}</ref> ] in front of its parent star<ref>{{cite web|title=First Detection of Super-Earth Atmosphere|url=http://www.spacetelescope.org/news/heic1603/|access-date=18 February 2016}}</ref>]]
In 2011, a density of ] was calculated which turned out to be similar to Earth's. At the size of about 2 Earth radii, it was the largest planet until 2014, which was determined to lack a significant hydrogen atmosphere.<ref name="winn11">{{cite journal | title=A Super Earth Transiting a Naked-Eye Star | author=Winn, J.N. | display-authors=etal | journal=The Astrophysical Journal | date=2008 | arxiv=1104.5230|bibcode = 2011ApJ...737L..18W |doi = 10.1088/2041-8205/737/1/L18 | volume=737 | issue=1 | pages=L18| s2cid=16768578 }}</ref><ref name="SP-20120120">{{cite web |author=Staff |title=Oozing Super-Earth: Images of Alien Planet 55 Cancri e |url=http://www.space.com/14303-images-oozing-alien-planet-55-cancri-photos.html |date=20 January 2012 |publisher=] |access-date=2012-01-21 }}</ref>


On 20 December 2011, the Kepler team announced the discovery of the first Earth-size exoplanets, Kepler-20e and Kepler-20f, orbiting a Sun-like star, ]. On 20 December 2011, the Kepler team announced the discovery of the first Earth-size exoplanets, Kepler-20e and Kepler-20f, orbiting a Sun-like star, ].
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==== 2012 ==== ==== 2012 ====
In September 2012, the discovery of two planets orbiting ]<ref name="Simbad-20120920">{{cite web|authors=Staff |title=LHS 188 -- High proper-motion Star |url=http://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/simbad/sim-id?Ident=HIP+19394 |date=September 20, 2012 |publisher=](Strasbourg astronomical Data Center) |accessdate=September 20, 2012 }}</ref> was announced.<ref name="PHL-20120829">{{cite web |last=Méndez |first=Abel |title=A Hot Potential Habitable Exoplanet around Gliese 163|url=http://phl.upr.edu/press-releases/ahotpotentialhabitableexoplanetaroundgliese163 |date=August 29, 2012|publisher=] (Planetary Habitability Laboratory)|accessdate=September 20, 2012 }}</ref><ref name="Space-20120920">{{cite web |last=Redd |first=Nola |title=Newfound Alien Planet a Top Contender to Host Life|url=http://www.space.com/17684-alien-planet-gliese-163c-extraterrestrial-life.html|date=September 20, 2012|publisher=] |accessdate=September 20, 2012 }}</ref> One of the planets, ], about 6.9 times the mass of Earth and somewhat hotter, was considered to be within the ].<ref name="PHL-20120829" /><ref name="Space-20120920" /> In September 2012, the discovery of two planets orbiting ]<ref name="Simbad-20120920">{{cite web|author=Staff |title=LHS 188 High proper-motion Star |url=http://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/simbad/sim-id?Ident=HIP+19394 |date=20 September 2012 |publisher=](Strasbourg astronomical Data Center) |access-date=20 September 2012 }}</ref> was announced.<ref name="PHL-20120829">{{cite web |last=Méndez |first=Abel |title=A Hot Potential Habitable Exoplanet around Gliese 163 |url=http://phl.upr.edu/press-releases/ahotpotentialhabitableexoplanetaroundgliese163 |date=29 August 2012 |publisher=] (Planetary Habitability Laboratory) |access-date=20 September 2012 |archive-date=21 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191021202448/http://phl.upr.edu/press-releases/ahotpotentialhabitableexoplanetaroundgliese163 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Space-20120920">{{cite web |last=Redd |first=Nola |title=Newfound Alien Planet a Top Contender to Host Life|url=http://www.space.com/17684-alien-planet-gliese-163c-extraterrestrial-life.html|date=20 September 2012|publisher=] |access-date=20 September 2012 }}</ref> One of the planets, ], about 6.9 times the mass of Earth and somewhat hotter, was considered to be within the ].<ref name="PHL-20120829" /><ref name="Space-20120920" />


==== 2013 ==== ==== 2013 ====
On January 7, 2013, astronomers from the ] ] announced the discovery of ] (formerly ''KOI-172.02''), an ]-like ] candidate (1.5 times the radius of Earth) orbiting a ] similar to our ] in the ] and possibly a "prime candidate to host ]".<ref name="Space-20130109">{{cite web |last=Moskowitz |first=Clara |title=Most Earth-Like Alien Planet Possibly Found |url=http://www.space.com/19201-most-earth-like-alien-planet.html |date=January 9, 2013 |publisher=] |accessdate=January 9, 2013 }}</ref> On 7 January 2013, astronomers from the ] announced the discovery of ] (formerly ''KOI-172.02''), an ]-like ] candidate (1.5 times the radius of Earth) orbiting a ] similar to the ] in the ] and possibly a "prime candidate to host ]".<ref name="Space-20130109">{{cite web |last=Moskowitz |first=Clara |title=Most Earth-Like Alien Planet Possibly Found |url=http://www.space.com/19201-most-earth-like-alien-planet.html |date=January 9, 2013 |publisher=] |access-date=9 January 2013 }}</ref>


In April 2013, using observations by NASA's Kepler Mission, a team led by ], of the agency's Ames Research Center, found five planets orbiting in the habitable zone of a Sun-like star, ], 1,200 light years from Earth. These new super-Earths have radii of 1.3, 1.4, 1.6, and 1.9 times that of Earth. Theoretical modelling of two of these super-Earths, ] and ], suggests both could be solid, either rocky or rocky with frozen water.<ref></ref> In April 2013, using observations by NASA's Kepler mission team led by ], of the agency's Ames Research Center, found five planets orbiting in the habitable zone of a Sun-like star, ], 1,200 light years from Earth. These new super-Earths have radii of 1.3, 1.4, 1.6, and 1.9 times that of Earth. Theoretical modelling of two of these super-Earths, ] and ], suggests both could be solid, either rocky or rocky with frozen water.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/superearths-two-earthlike-planets-that-could-host-life-discovered/1105249/|title=Indian Express}}</ref>


On June 25, 2013 Three “super Earth” planets have been found orbiting a nearby star at a distance where life in theory could exist, according to a record-breaking tally announced on Tuesday by the European Southern Observatory. They are part of a cluster of as many as seven planets that circle ], one of three stars located a relatively close 22 light years from Earth in the constellation of Scorpio, it said. The planets orbit Gliese 667C in the so-called Goldilocks Zone — a distance from the star at which the temperature is just right for water to exist in liquid form rather than being stripped away by stellar radiation or locked permanently in ice.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://rt.com/news/super-earths-habitable-zone-228/ |title=Three super-Earths discovered in habitable zone of same star ‘for the first time’ |publisher=RT News |date=2013-06-26 |accessdate=2013-09-19}}</ref> On 25 June 2013, three "super Earth" planets have been found orbiting a nearby star at a distance where life in theory could exist, according to a record-breaking tally announced on Tuesday by the European Southern Observatory. They are part of a cluster of as many as seven planets that circle ], one of three stars located a relatively close 22 light years from Earth in the constellation of Scorpio, it said. The planets orbit Gliese 667C in the so-called Goldilocks Zone — a distance from the star at which the temperature is just right for water to exist in liquid form rather than being stripped away by stellar radiation or locked permanently in ice.{{citation needed|date=December 2020}}


==== 2014 ==== ==== 2014 ====
In May 2014, previously discovered ] was determined to have the mass comparable to Neptune (17 Earth masses). With the radius of 2.35 {{Earth radius}}, it is currently the largest known planet likely to have a predominantly rocky composition.<ref name="damusque etal 2014">{{Cite journal |last=Dumusque |first=Xavier |display-authors=etal |date=24 June 2014 |title=The Kepler-10 Planetary System Revisited by Harps-N: A Hot Rocky World and a Solid Neptune-Mass Planet |journal=] |volume=789 |issue=2 |page=154 |arxiv=1405.7881 |bibcode=2014ApJ...789..154D |doi=10.1088/0004-637X/789/2/154 |issn=0004-637X |s2cid=53475787}}</ref> At 17 Earth masses, it is well above the 10 Earth mass upper limit that is commonly used for the term 'super-Earth' so the term ] has been proposed.<ref name=t6x29ntnQb0>{{cite web |url=http://aas.org/media-press/archived-aas-press-conference-webcasts |title=Exoplanets: From Exhilarating to Exasperating, 22:59, Kepler-10c: The 'Mega-Earth' |author=Dimitar Sasselov |date=2 June 2014}} </ref> However, in July 2017, more careful analysis of HARPS-N and HIRES data showed that Kepler-10c was much less massive than originally thought, instead around 7.37 (6.18 to 8.69) {{Earth mass}} with a mean density of 3.14 g/cm<sup>3</sup>. Instead of a primarily rocky composition, the more accurately determined mass of Kepler-10c suggests a world made almost entirely of volatiles, mainly water.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Rajpaul |first1=V. |last2=Buchhave |first2=L. A. |last3=Aigrain |first3=S. |date=2017 |title=Pinning down the mass of Kepler-10c: the importance of sampling and model comparison |journal=Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters |volume=471 |issue=1 |pages=L125–L130 |arxiv=1707.06192 |bibcode=2017MNRAS.471L.125R |doi=10.1093/mnrasl/slx116 |s2cid=119243418 |doi-access=free}}</ref>

==== 2015 ====
On 6 January 2015, NASA announced the 1000th confirmed ] discovered by the Kepler space telescope. Three of the newly confirmed exoplanets were found to orbit within ]s of their related ]s: two of the three, ] and ], are near-Earth-size and likely rocky; the third, ], is a super-Earth.<ref name="NASA-20150106">{{cite web |last1=Clavin |first1=Whitney |last2=Chou |first2=Felicia |last3=Johnson |first3=Michele |title=NASA's Kepler Marks 1,000th Exoplanet Discovery, Uncovers More Small Worlds in Habitable Zones |url=http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?release=2015-003 |date=6 January 2015 |work=] |access-date=6 January 2015 }}</ref>

On 30 July 2015, '']'' said they found a planetary system with three super-Earths orbiting a bright, dwarf star. The four-planet system, dubbed ], had been found 21 light years from Earth in the M-shaped northern hemisphere of ], but it is not in the ] of its star. The planet with the shortest orbit is ], and is Earth's closest known rocky, and transiting, exoplanet.<ref name="Astronomers find star with three super-Earths">{{cite web |title=Astronomers find star with three super-Earths |website = ]|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/astronomers-find-star-with-three-super-earths/ar-AAdJ05a?ocid=mailsignout |date=30 July 2015 |access-date=30 July 2015 }}</ref><ref name="NASA-20150730">{{cite web |title=PIA19832: Location of Nearest Rocky Exoplanet Known |url=http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA19832 |date=30 July 2015 |work=] |access-date=30 July 2015 }}</ref><ref name="NASA-20150730-fc">{{cite web |last1=Chou |first1=Felicia |last2=Clavin |first2=Whitney |title=NASA's Spitzer Confirms Closest Rocky Exoplanet |url=http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=4672 |date=30 July 2015 |work=] |access-date=31 July 2015 }}</ref>

==== 2016 ====
In February 2016, it was announced that ]{{'s}} ] had detected ] and ] (and suggestions of ]), but no ], in the ] of ], the first time the atmosphere of a super-Earth ] was analyzed successfully.<ref name="Phys-20160216">{{cite web |author=Staff |title=First detection of super-earth atmosphere |url=http://phys.org/news/2016-02-super-earth-atmosphere.html |date=16 February 2016 |work=] |access-date=17 February 2016 }}</ref>

In August 2016, astronomers announced the detection of '']'', an ] ] that is in the ] of the ] ] ], the closest star to the ].<ref name="NYT-20160824">{{cite news |last=Chang |first=Kenneth |title=One Star Over, a Planet That Might Be Another Earth |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/25/science/earth-planet-proxima-centauri.html |date=24 August 2016 |work=] |access-date=24 August 2016 }}</ref> Due to its closeness to ], ''Proxima b'' may be a flyby destination for a fleet of interstellar '']'' spacecraft currently being developed by the ] project.<ref name="NYT-20160824" />

==== 2018 ====
In February 2018, K2-141b, a rocky ] (USP) Super-Earth, with a period of 0.28 days orbiting the host star K2-141 (EPIC 246393474) was reported.<ref name="AJ-20180209">{{cite journal |author=Malavolta, Luca |display-authors=et al |title=An Ultra-short Period Rocky Super-Earth with a Secondary Eclipse and a Neptune-like Companion around K2-141 |date=9 February 2018 |journal=] |volume=155 |number=3 |doi=10.3847/1538-3881/aaa5b5 |page=107|arxiv=1801.03502 |bibcode=2018AJ....155..107M |s2cid=54869937 |doi-access=free }}</ref> Another Super-Earth, ], is discovered.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Jorgenson|first1=Amber|title=Potentially habitable super-Earth found during exoplanet search|url=http://astronomy.com/news/2018/03/potentially-habitable-super-earth-found-during-exoplanet-search|publisher=]|date=March 14, 2018}}</ref>

In July 2018, the discovery of ] b was announced.<ref name="Dharma">{{cite journal | doi=10.1093/mnras/sty1933 |bibcode=2018MNRAS.480.2411M | arxiv=1807.07098 |title=The first super-Earth Detection from the High Cadence and High Radial Velocity Precision Dharma Planet Survey |journal=Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society |volume=480 |issue=2 |pages=2411 |year=2018 |last1=Ma |first1=Bo |last2=Ge |first2=Jian |last3=Muterspaugh |first3=Matthew |last4=Singer |first4=Michael A |last5=Henry |first5=Gregory W |last6=González Hernández |first6=Jonay I |last7=Sithajan |first7=Sirinrat |last8=Jeram |first8=Sarik |last9=Williamson |first9=Michael |last10=Stassun |first10=Keivan |last11=Kimock |first11=Benjamin |last12=Varosi |first12=Frank |last13=Schofield |first13=Sidney |last14=Liu |first14=Jian |last15=Powell |first15=Scott |last16=Cassette |first16=Anthony |last17=Jakeman |first17=Hali |last18=Avner |first18=Louis |last19=Grieves |first19=Nolan |last20=Barnes |first20=Rory |last21=Gilda |first21=Sankalp |last22=Grantham |first22=Jim |last23=Stafford |first23=Greg |last24=Savage |first24=David |last25=Bland |first25=Steve |last26=Ealey |first26=Brent |doi-access=free |s2cid=54871108 |display-authors=1 }}</ref> At 16 light-years it is the closest super-Earth known, and its star is the second-brightest hosting a super-Earth.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Young |first1=Monica |title=Super-Earth Discovered in (Fictional) Vulcan System |url=https://www.skyandtelescope.com/astronomy-news/super-earth-vulcan/ |access-date=Sep 20, 2018 |agency=Sky and Telescope |date=September 17, 2018}}</ref><ref name="Dharma" />

==== 2019 ====
In July 2019, the discovery of ] was announced. Thirty-one light-years from the Solar System, the planet is at least 6.1 {{Earth mass|link=y}}.

====2021====
In 2021, the exoplanet ] was discovered.

====2022====
In 2022, the discovery of a super-Earth around the red dwarf star ] was reported. Part of the planet's ] takes it within the ].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Super-Earth Skimming Habitable Zone of Red Dwarf |url=https://www.nao.ac.jp/en/news/science/2022/20220801-subaru.html |access-date=10 August 2022|date=1 August 2022 |website=National Astronomical Observatory of Japan}}</ref>

====2024====

On 31 January 2024 ] reported the discovery of a super-Earth called TOI-715 b located in the ] of a red dwarf star about 137 light-years away.<ref>{{cite web |title=Discovery Alert: A 'Super-Earth' in the Habitable Zone|url=https://exoplanets.nasa.gov/news/1774/discovery-alert-a-super-earth-in-the-habitable-zone/ |access-date=6 February 2024 |date=31 January 2024 |work=NASA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kaufman |first=Mark |date=February 7, 2024 |title=NASA found a super-Earth. It's in a tantalizing place. |url=https://mashable.com/article/nasa-super-earth-planet-discovery |website=Mashable}}</ref>

==In Solar system==
{{main|Planet Nine}}
The ] contains no known super-Earths, because Earth is the largest ] in the Solar System, and all larger planets have both at least 14 times the mass of Earth and thick gaseous envelopes without well-defined rocky or watery surfaces; that is, they are either ] or ], not terrestrial planets. In January 2016, the existence of a hypothetical super-Earth ninth planet in the Solar System, referred to as ], was proposed as an explanation for the orbital behavior of six ]s, but it is speculated to also be an ice giant like Uranus or Neptune.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Evidence for a distant giant planet in the Solar System |first1=Konstantin |last1=Batygin |first2=Michael E. |last2=Brown |date=20 January 2016 |journal=] |volume=151 |issue=2 |pages=22 |doi=10.3847/0004-6256/151/2/22|bibcode=2016AJ....151...22B |arxiv = 1601.05438 |s2cid=2701020 |doi-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.straitstimes.com/world/united-states/new-planet-lurks-in-solar-system|title = New planet lurks in Solar System|date = 22 January 2016|access-date = 8 February 2016|website = The Straits Times}}</ref> A refined model in 2019 constrains it to around five Earth masses;<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130012346/http://www.findplanetnine.com/2019/02/version-2x.html |date=2020-11-30 }} findplanetnine.com February 26, 2019</ref> planets of this mass are probably mini-Neptunes.<ref name=ChenKipping>{{cite journal |last1=Chen |first1=Jingjing |last2=Kipping |first2=David |date=2016 |title=Probabilistic Forecasting of the Masses and Radii of Other Worlds |journal=The Astrophysical Journal |volume=834 |issue=1 |page=17 |doi= 10.3847/1538-4357/834/1/17|arxiv=1603.08614 |s2cid=119114880 |doi-access=free |bibcode=2017ApJ...834...17C }}</ref>


The fact that there are barely any ] or ] inside the orbit of ] led some astronomers believing that a super-Earth might have formed in proximity to the Sun, cleared its neighborhood and rapidly get disrupted by the Sun.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Gough |first1=Evan |last2=Today |first2=Universe |title=Our sun may have eaten a super-Earth for breakfast |url=https://phys.org/news/2016-04-sun-eaten-super-earth-breakfast.html |access-date=2024-09-04 |website=phys.org |language=en}}</ref>
In May 2014, previously discovered ] was determined to have the mass comparable to Neptune. With the radius of 2.35, it is currently the largest planet likely to have a predominately rocky composition, representing the upper limit of super-Earths in terms of mass and radius.<ref name="arxiv.or">: Xavier Dumusque, Aldo S. Bonomo, Raphaelle D. Haywood, Luca Malavolta, Damien Segransan, Lars A. Buchhave, Andrew Collier Cameron, David W. Latham, Emilio Molinari, Francesco Pepe, Stephane Udry, David Charbonneau, Rosario Cosentino, Courtney D. Dressing, Pedro Figueira, Aldo F. M. Fiorenzano, Sara Gettel, Avet Harutyunyan, Keith Horne, Mercedes Lopez-Morales, Christophe Lovis, Michel Mayor, Giusi Micela, Fatemeh Motalebi, Valerio Nascimbeni, David F. Phillips, Giampaolo Piotto, Don Pollacco, Didier Queloz, Ken Rice, Dimitar Sasselov, Alessandro Sozzetti, Andrew Szentgyorgyi, Chris Watson</ref>


== Characteristics == == Characteristics ==

[[File:Planet sizes.svg|320px|thumb|Comparison of sizes of planets with different compositions<ref>
=== Density and bulk composition ===
[[File:Planet sizes.svg|thumb|Comparison of sizes of planets with different compositions<ref>
{{cite web {{cite web
|date=24 September 2007 |date=24 September 2007
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|url=http://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/news/topstory/2007/earthsized_planets.html |url=http://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/news/topstory/2007/earthsized_planets.html
|publisher=] |publisher=]
|accessdate=2012-04-28 |access-date=2012-04-28
}}</ref>]] }}</ref>]]
Due to the larger mass of super-Earths, their physical characteristics may differ from Earth's; theoretical models for super-Earths provide four possible main compositions according to their density: low-density super-Earths are inferred to be composed mainly of hydrogen and helium (]s); super-Earths of intermediate density are inferred to either have water as a major constituent (]s), or have a denser core enshrouded with an extended gaseous envelope (] or sub-Neptune). A super-Earth of high density is believed to be rocky and/or metallic, like Earth and the other terrestrial planets of the Solar System. A super-Earth's interior could be undifferentiated, partially differentiated, or completely differentiated into layers of different composition. Researchers at Harvard Astronomy Department have developed user-friendly online tools to characterize the bulk composition of the super-Earths.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.astrozeng.com|title=www.astrozeng.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal | jstor=10.1086/669163| doi=10.1086/669163|title = A Detailed Model Grid for Solid Planets from 0.1 through 100 Earth Masses| journal=Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific| volume=125| issue=925| pages=227–239|year = 2013|last1 = Zeng|first1 = Li| last2=Sasselov| first2=Dimitar| arxiv=1301.0818| bibcode=2013PASP..125..227Z| s2cid=51914911}}</ref> A study on ] by a team around ]<ref name="Valencia" /> revealed that it would be possible to infer from a radius measured by the ] of detecting planets and the mass of the relevant planet what the structural composition is. For Gliese 876 d, calculations range from 9,200&nbsp;km (1.4 Earth radii) for a rocky planet and very large iron core to 12,500&nbsp;km (2.0 Earth radii) for a watery and icy planet. Within this range of radii the super-Earth Gliese 876 d would have a surface ] between 1.9] and 3.3g (19 and 32&nbsp;m/s<sup>2</sup>). However, this planet is not known to transit its host star.


The limit between rocky planets and planets with a thick gaseous envelope is calculated with theoretical models. Calculating the effect of the active XUV saturation phase of G-type stars over the loss of the primitive nebula-captured hydrogen envelopes in extrasolar planets, it's obtained that planets with a core mass of more than 1.5 Earth-mass (1.15 Earth-radius max.), most likely cannot get rid of their nebula captured hydrogen envelopes during their whole lifetime.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Lammer |first=H. |display-authors=etal |date=21 April 2014 |title=Origin and loss of nebula-captured hydrogen envelopes from 'sub'- to 'super-Earths' in the habitable zone of Sun-like stars |journal=] |language=en |volume=439 |issue=4 |pages=3225–3238 |doi=10.1093/mnras/stu085 |doi-access=free |issn=1365-2966|arxiv=1401.2765 }}</ref> Other calculations point out that the limit between envelope-free rocky super-Earths and sub-Neptunes is around 1.75 Earth-radii, as 2 Earth-radii would be the upper limit to be rocky (a planet with 2 Earth-radii and 5 Earth-masses with a mean Earth-like core composition would imply that 1/200 of its mass would be in a H/He envelope, with an atmospheric pressure near to {{convert|20000|bar|GPa|abbr=on|order=flip|disp=or}}).<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Lopez |first1=Eric D. |last2=Fortney |first2=Jonathan J. |date=7 August 2014 |title=Understanding the Mass-Radius Relation for Sub-Neptunes: Radius as a Proxy for Composition |journal=] |volume=792 |issue=1 |pages=1 |arxiv=1311.0329 |doi=10.1088/0004-637X/792/1/1 |bibcode=2014ApJ...792....1L |issn=1538-4357}}</ref> Whether or not the primitive nebula-captured H/He envelope of a super-Earth is entirely lost after formation also depends on the orbital distance. For example, formation and evolution calculations of the ] planetary system show that the two innermost planets Kepler-11b and c, whose calculated mass is ≈2 ] and between ≈5 and 6 M<sub>🜨</sub> respectively (which are within measurement errors), are extremely vulnerable to envelope loss.<ref name=dangelo_bodenheimer_2016>{{cite journal|last=D'Angelo|first=G.|author2= Bodenheimer, P. |title=In Situ and Ex Situ Formation Models of Kepler 11 Planets|journal=The Astrophysical Journal|year=2016|volume=828|issue=1|pages=in press|doi=10.3847/0004-637X/828/1/33|arxiv = 1606.08088 |bibcode = 2016ApJ...828...33D |s2cid=119203398 |doi-access=free }}</ref> In particular, the complete removal of the primordial H/He envelope by energetic stellar photons appears almost inevitable in the case of Kepler-11b, regardless of its formation hypothesis.<ref name = "dangelo_bodenheimer_2016"/>
===Density and bulk composition===
If a super-Earth is detectable by both the radial-velocity and the transit methods, then both its mass and its radius can be determined. Thus its average bulk density can be calculated. Super-Earths with low density (]s) are inferred to be composed mainly of hydrogen and helium, while super-Earths of intermediate density are inferred to either have water as a major constituent (]s), or have a denser core enshrouded with an extended gaseous envelope. The last condition would be the most usual after measuring 65 super-Earths smaller than 4 Earth-radii: there is a trend where planets with radii up to 1.5 Earth radii increase in density with increasing radius, but above 1.5 radii the average planet density rapidly decreases with increasing radius, indicating that these planets have a large fraction of volatiles by volume overlying a rocky core.<ref>Lauren M. Weiss, and Geoffrey W. Marcy. ""</ref> Calculations about the effect of the active XUV saturation phase of G-type stars over the loss of the primitive nebula-captured hydrogen envelopes in extrasolar planets, indicate that planets with a core mass of more than 1.5 Earth-mass (1.15 Earth-radius max.), most likely can not get rid of their nebula captured hydrogen envelopes during their whole lifetime.<ref>H. Lammer et al. "", '']'', Oxford University Press.</ref> A super-Earth of high density is believed to be rocky and/or metallic, like Earth and the other terrestrial planets of the Solar System. A super-Earth's interior could be undifferentiated, partially differentiated, or completely differentiated into layers of different composition. Researchers at Harvard Astronomy Department have developed user-friendly online tools to characterize the bulk composition of the super-Earths.<ref></ref><ref>Li Zeng, and Dimitar Sasselov. "". In the Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific (PASP), Chicago Journals, Volume 125, No. 925, pp. 227-239, March 2013.</ref>


If a super-Earth is detectable by both the radial-velocity and the transit methods, then both its mass and its radius can be determined; thus its average bulk density can be calculated. The actual empirical observations are giving similar results as theoretical models, as it's found that planets larger than approximately 1.6 Earth-radius (more massive than approximately 6 Earth-masses) contain significant fractions of volatiles or H/He gas (such planets appear to have a diversity of compositions that is not well-explained by a single mass-radius relation as that found in rocky planets).<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Dressing |first=Courtney D. |display-authors=etal |date=20 February 2015 |title=The Mass of Kepler-93b and The Composition of Terrestrial Planets |journal=] |volume=800 |issue=2 |pages=135 |arxiv=1412.8687 |doi=10.1088/0004-637X/800/2/135 |bibcode=2015ApJ...800..135D |issn=1538-4357}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Rogers |first=Leslie A. |date=2 March 2015 |title=Most 1.6 Earth-Radius Planets are not Rocky |url=https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/0004-637X/801/1/41 |journal=] |volume=801 |issue=1 |pages=41 |arxiv=1407.4457 |doi=10.1088/0004-637X/801/1/41 |bibcode=2015ApJ...801...41R |issn=1538-4357}}</ref> After measuring 65 super-Earths smaller than 4 Earth-radii, the empirical data points out that Gas Dwarves would be the most usual composition: there is a trend where planets with radii up to 1.5 Earth-radii increase in density with increasing radius, but above 1.5 radii the average planet density rapidly decreases with increasing radius, indicating that these planets have a large fraction of volatiles by volume overlying a rocky core.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Weiss |first1=Lauren M. |last2=Marcy |first2=Geoffrey W. |date=3 February 2014 |title=The Mass-Radius Relation for 65 Exoplanets Smaller than 4 Earth Radii |journal=] |volume=783 |issue=1 |pages=L6 |arxiv=1312.0936 |doi=10.1088/2041-8205/783/1/L6 |bibcode=2014ApJ...783L...6W |issn=2041-8205}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Marcy |first1=Geoffrey W. |last2=Weiss |first2=Lauren M. |last3=Petigura |first3=Erik A. |last4=Isaacson |first4=Howard |last5=Howard |first5=Andrew W. |last6=Buchhave |first6=Lars A. |date=2 September 2014 |title=Occurrence and core-envelope structure of 1–4× Earth-size planets around Sun-like stars |journal=] |language=en |volume=111 |issue=35 |pages=12655–12660 |arxiv=1404.2960 |doi=10.1073/pnas.1304197111 |doi-access=free |issn=0027-8424 |pmc=4156743 |pmid=24912169|bibcode=2014PNAS..11112655M }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Marcy |first=Geoffrey W. |display-authors=etal |date=13 January 2014 |title=Masses, Radii, and Orbits of Small Kepler Planets: The Transition from Gaseous to Rocky Planets |journal=] |volume=210 |issue=2 |pages=20 |arxiv=1401.4195 |doi=10.1088/0067-0049/210/2/20 |bibcode=2014ApJS..210...20M |issn=0067-0049}}</ref> Another discovery about exoplanets' composition is that about the ], which is explained by a bimodal formation of planets (rocky Super-Earths below 1.75 and sub-Neptunes with thick gas envelopes being above such radii).<ref name="doi.org"/>
Due to the larger mass of super-Earths, their physical characteristics differ from Earth's. A study on Gliese 876 d by a team around ]<ref name="Valencia" /> revealed that it would be possible to infer from a radius measured by the ] of detecting planets and the mass of the relevant planet what the structural composition of a relevant super-Earth is. For ], calculations range from 9,200&nbsp;km (1.4 Earth radii) for a rocky planet and very large iron core to 12,500&nbsp;km (2.0 Earth radii) for a watery and icy planet. Within this range of radii the super-Earth Gliese 876 d would have a surface gravity between 1.9''g'' and 3.3''g'' (19 and 32&nbsp;m/s²).


Additional studies, conducted with lasers at the ] and at the ] laboratory at the ] show that the magnesium-silicate internal regions of the planet would undergo phase changes under the immense pressures and temperatures of a super-Earth planet, and that the different phases of this liquid magnesium silicate would separate into layers. Additional studies, conducted with lasers at the ] and the ] laboratory at the ], show that the magnesium-silicate internal regions of the planet would undergo phase changes under the immense pressures and temperatures of a super-Earth planet, and that the different phases of this liquid magnesium silicate would separate into layers.<ref>{{Cite thesis |title=Laser-Driven Shock Compression Studies of Planetary Compositions |url=https://escholarship.org/uc/item/73g7z3mj |publisher=UC Berkeley |date=2010 |language=en |first=Dylan Kenneth |last=Spaulding}}</ref>


===Geologic activity=== === Geologic activity ===
Further theoretical work by Valencia and others suggests that super-Earths would be more geologically active than Earth, with more vigorous ] due to thinner plates under more stress. In fact, their models suggested that Earth was itself a "borderline" case, just barely large enough to sustain plate tectonics.<ref> Further theoretical work by Valencia and others suggests that super-Earths would be more geologically active than Earth, with more vigorous ] due to thinner plates under more stress. In fact, their models suggested that Earth was itself a "borderline" case, just barely large enough to sustain plate tectonics.<ref>
{{cite press {{cite press release
|date=9 January 2008 |date=9 January 2008
|title=Earth: A Borderline Planet for Life? |title=Earth: A Borderline Planet for Life?
|url=http://www.cfa.harvard.edu/press/2008/pr200802.html |url=http://www.cfa.harvard.edu/press/2008/pr200802.html
|publisher=] |publisher=]
|accessdate=2012-04-28 |access-date=2012-04-28
}}</ref> However, other studies determine that strong ] in the mantle acting on strong gravity would make the crust stronger and thus inhibit plate tectonics. The planet's surface would be too strong for the forces of ] to break the crust into plates.<ref> }}</ref> These findings were corroborated by van Heck et al., who determined that plate tectonics may be more likely on super-Earths than on Earth itself, assuming similar composition.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=van Heck |first1=H.J. |last2=Tackley |first2=P.J. |date=15 October 2011 |title=Plate tectonics on super-Earths: Equally or more likely than on Earth |url=https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2011.07.029 |journal=Earth and Planetary Science Letters |volume=310 |issue=3–4 |pages=252–261 |doi=10.1016/j.epsl.2011.07.029 |bibcode=2011E&PSL.310..252V |issn=0012-821X}}</ref> However, other studies determined that strong ] in the mantle acting on strong gravity would make the crust stronger and thus inhibit plate tectonics. The planet's surface would be too strong for the forces of ] to break the crust into plates.<ref>
{{cite journal {{cite journal
|last=Barry |first=C. |last = Barry
|first = C.
|date=17 October 2007
|date = 17 October 2007
|title=The plate tectonics of alien worlds
|title = The plate tectonics of alien worlds
|url=http://www.cosmosmagazine.com/node/1658
|url = http://www.cosmosmagazine.com/node/1658
|journal=]
|journal = ]
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120504184330/http://www.cosmosmagazine.com/node/1658
|archive-date = 4 May 2012
}}</ref> }}</ref>


===Evolution=== === Evolution ===
The new research suggests that the rocky centres of super-Earths are unlikely to evolve into terrestrial rocky planets like the inner planets of our Solar System because they appear to hold on to their large atmospheres. Rather than evolving to a planet composed mainly of rock with a thin atmosphere, the small rocky core remains engulfed by its large hydrogen-rich envelope.<ref>{{cite web|last=Black|first=Charles|title=Super-Earths are more like mini-Neptunes|url=http://sen.com/news/super-earths-could-be-more-like-mini-neptunes.html}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Lammer|first=Helmut|title=Probing the blow-off criteria of hydrogen-rich 'super-Earths'|journal=Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society|volume=430|issue=2|pages=1247|doi=10.1093/mnras/sts705|publisher=Royal Astronomical Society|year=2013|last2=Erkaev|first2=N. V.|last3=Odert|first3=P.|last4=Kislyakova|first4=K. G.|last5=Leitzinger|first5=M.|last6=Khodachenko|first6=M. L.}}</ref> New research suggests that the rocky centres of super-Earths are unlikely to evolve into terrestrial rocky planets like the inner planets of the Solar System because they appear to hold on to their large atmospheres. Rather than evolving into a planet composed mainly of rock with a thin atmosphere, the small rocky core remains engulfed by its large hydrogen-rich envelope.<ref>{{cite web|last=Black|first=Charles|title=Super-Earths are more like mini-Neptunes|url=http://sen.com/news/super-earths-could-be-more-like-mini-neptunes.html|access-date=2013-03-14|archive-date=2013-03-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130314060226/http://www.sen.com/news/super-earths-could-be-more-like-mini-neptunes.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Lammer|first1=Helmut|title=Probing the blow-off criteria of hydrogen-rich 'super-Earths'|journal=Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society|volume=430|issue=2|pages=1247–1256|doi=10.1093/mnras/sts705|date=2013|last2=Erkaev|first2=N. V.|last3=Odert|first3=P.|last4=Kislyakova|first4=K. G.|last5=Leitzinger|first5=M.|last6=Khodachenko|first6=M. L.|doi-access=free |arxiv = 1210.0793 |bibcode = 2013MNRAS.430.1247L |s2cid=55890198}}</ref>

Theoretical models show that Hot Jupiters and Hot Neptunes can evolve by hydrodynamic loss of their atmospheres to Mini-Neptunes (as it could be the Super-Earth ]),<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Charbonneau |first=David |date=December 2009 |title=A super-Earth transiting a nearby low-mass star |journal=Nature |volume=462 |issue=7275 |pages=891–894 |arxiv=0912.3229 |doi=10.1038/nature08679 |pmid=20016595 |bibcode=2009Natur.462..891C |issn=0028-0836 |display-authors=etal}}</ref> or even to rocky planets known as ]s (after migrating towards the proximity of their parent star). The amount of the outermost layers that is lost depends on the size and the material of the planet and the distance from the star.<ref name=dangelo_bodenheimer_2016 /> In a typical system, a gas giant orbiting 0.02 AU around its parent star loses 5–7% of its mass during its lifetime, but orbiting closer than 0.015 AU can mean evaporation of the whole planet except for its core.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.astrobio.net/news/article3112.html|title=Exoplanets Exposed to the Core|date=2009-04-25|access-date=2009-04-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110527183634/http://www.astrobio.net/pressrelease/3112/darwin-in-a-test-tube |archive-date=2011-05-27 |url-status=usurped}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Sotin |first1=Christophe |last2=Grasset |first2=O. |last3=Mocquet |first3=A. |date=October 2013 |title=Are terrestrial exoplanets Earth-like, Venus-like, or the remnants of gas- or ice-giants? |journal=] |volume=45 |pages=113.10 |bibcode=2013DPS....4511310S}}</ref>

The low densities inferred from observations imply that a fraction of the super-Earth population has substantial H/He envelopes, which may have been even more massive soon after formation.<ref name=dl2018>{{cite book|last=D'Angelo|first=G.|author2=Lissauer, J. J.|chapter=Formation of Giant Planets |bibcode=2018haex.bookE.140D| title=Handbook of Exoplanets |publisher=Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature| editor=Deeg H., Belmonte J. |pages= 2319–2343|date=2018|arxiv=1806.05649|doi=10.1007/978-3-319-55333-7_140|isbn=978-3-319-55332-0|s2cid=116913980}}</ref> Therefore, contrary to the terrestrial planets of the solar system, these super-Earths must have formed during the gas-phase of their progenitor ].<ref name=dangelo_bodenheimer_2013>{{cite journal|last=D'Angelo|first=G.|author2= Bodenheimer, P. |title=Three-dimensional Radiation-hydrodynamics Calculations of the Envelopes of Young Planets Embedded in Protoplanetary Disks|journal=The Astrophysical Journal|year=2013|volume=778|issue=1|pages=77|doi=10.1088/0004-637X/778/1/77|arxiv = 1310.2211 |bibcode = 2013ApJ...778...77D |s2cid=118522228}}</ref>


=== Temperatures === === Temperatures ===
Since the atmospheres, ] and ]s of super-Earths are unknown, the surface temperatures are unknown and generally only an equilibrium temperature is given. For example, the ] of the Earth is 254.3 ] (−19 °C or −2 °F ).<ref name="earth_fact_sheet"> Since the atmospheres, ] and ]s of super-Earths are unknown, the surface temperatures are unknown and generally only an equilibrium temperature is given. For example, the ] of the Earth is 255.3 ] (−18&nbsp;°C or 0&nbsp;°F ).<ref name="venus_fact_sheet">{{cite web
| url = http://web.gps.caltech.edu/classes/ese148a/lecture2.pdf
{{cite web
| title = Emission Temperature of Planets
| last =Grayzeck| first = E.
| publisher = ]
| date = 17 November 2010
| access-date = 2018-01-13
| url = http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/factsheet/earthfact.html
| archive-date = 2018-08-26
| title = Earth Fact Sheet
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180826220613/http://web.gps.caltech.edu/classes/ese148a/lecture2.pdf
| publisher = ]
| accessdate = 2012-04-28 | url-status = dead
}}</ref> It is the ]es that keep the Earth warmer. Venus has a black-body temperature of only 184.2 K (−89 °C or −128 °F ) even though Venus has a true temperature of 737 K (464 °C or 867 °F ).<ref name="venus_fact_sheet"> }}</ref> It is the ]es that keep the Earth warmer. Venus has a black-body temperature of only 184.2 K (−89&nbsp;°C or −128&nbsp;°F ) even though Venus has a true temperature of 737 K (464&nbsp;°C or 867&nbsp;°F ).<ref name="venus_fact_sheet"/> Though the atmosphere of Venus traps more heat than Earth's, NASA lists the black-body temperature of Venus based on the fact that Venus has an extremely high albedo (] 0.90, ] 0.67),<ref name="venus_fact_sheet" /> giving it a lower black body temperature than the more absorbent (lower ]) Earth.
{{cite web
| last =Grayzeck| first = E.
| date = 17 November 2010
| url = http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/factsheet/venusfact.html
| title = Venus Fact Sheet
| publisher = ]
| accessdate = 2009-12-23
}}</ref> Though the atmosphere of Venus traps more heat than Earth's, NASA lists the black-body temperature of Venus based on the fact that Venus has an extremely high albedo (] 0.90, ] 0.67),<ref name="venus_fact_sheet">
{{cite web
| last =Grayzeck| first = E.
| date = 17 November 2010
| url = http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/factsheet/venusfact.html
| title = Venus Fact Sheet
| publisher = ]
| accessdate = 2013-03-14
}}</ref> giving it a lower black body temperature than the more absorbent (lower ]) Earth.


===Magnetic field=== === Magnetic field ===
Earth's magnetic field results from its flowing liquid metallic core, but in super-Earths the mass can produce high pressures with large viscosities and high melting temperatures which could prevent the interiors from separating into different layers and so result in undifferentiated coreless mantles. Magnesium oxide, which is rocky on Earth, can be a liquid metal at the pressures and temperatures found in super-Earths and could generate a magnetic field in the mantles of super-Earths.<ref>, Charles Q. Choi, SPACE.com, November 22, 2012 02:01pm ET,</ref> Earth's magnetic field results from its flowing liquid metallic core, but in super-Earths the mass can produce high pressures with large viscosities and high melting temperatures, which could prevent the interiors from separating into different layers and so result in undifferentiated coreless mantles. Magnesium oxide, which is rocky on Earth, can be a liquid metal at the pressures and temperatures found in super-Earths and could generate a magnetic field in the mantles of super-Earths.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Choi |first=Charles Q. |date=22 November 2012 |title=Super-Earths Get Magnetic 'Shield' from Liquid Metal |url=https://www.space.com/18604-super-earth-planets-liquid-metal.html |website=Space.com |language=en}}</ref> That said, super-Earth magnetic fields are yet to be detected observationally.

=== Habitability ===
{{Further | Planetary habitability| astrobiology}}
According to one hypothesis,<ref name="Heller 2015">{{Cite journal |last=Heller |first=René |date=January 2015 |title=Planets More Habitable Than Earth May Be Common in Our Galaxy |journal=] |volume=312 |issue=1 |pages=32–39 |doi=10.1038/scientificamerican0115-32 |pmid=25597107 |issn=0036-8733}}</ref> super-Earths of about two Earth masses may be ]. The higher surface gravity would lead to a thicker atmosphere, increased surface erosion and hence a flatter topography. The result could be an "archipelago planet" of shallow oceans dotted with island chains ideally suited for ]. A more massive planet of two Earth masses would also retain more heat within its interior from its initial formation much longer, sustaining ] (which is vital for regulating the ] and hence the ]) for longer. The thicker atmosphere and stronger magnetic field would also shield life on the surface against harmful ].<ref name="Heller 2015" />


== See also == == See also ==
* {{annotated link|Earth analog}}
{{Portal|Space}}
* {{annotated link|Extraterrestrial liquid water}}
{{cmn|3|
* {{annotated link|Hot Neptune}}
* ]
* {{annotated link|Super-Neptune}}
* ]
* {{annotated link|List of nearest terrestrial exoplanet candidates}}
* ]
* {{annotated link|Sub-Earth}}
* ]
* {{annotated link|TOI-1452 b}}
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
}}


== References == == References ==
{{reflist|25em}}
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}


== External links == == External links ==
*{{Commons category-inline|Super-Earths}} * {{Commons category-inline|Super-Earths}}
*


{{exoplanet}} {{exoplanet}}
{{Portal bar|Astronomy|Stars|Spaceflight|Outer space|Solar System}}


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Latest revision as of 08:56, 17 December 2024

Type of exoplanet This article is about the planet type. For the fictional polity, see Helldivers and Helldivers II.
Illustration of the inferred size of the super-Earth CoRoT-7b (center) in comparison with Earth and Neptune

A Super-Earth or super-terran or super-tellurian is a type of exoplanet with a mass higher than Earth, but substantially below those of the Solar System's ice giants, Uranus and Neptune, which are 14.5 and 17.1 times Earth's, respectively. The term "super-Earth" refers only to the mass of the planet, and so does not imply anything about the surface conditions or habitability. The alternative term "gas dwarfs" may be more accurate for those at the higher end of the mass scale, although "mini-Neptunes" is a more common term.

Definition

Artist's impression of the super-Earth exoplanet LHS 1140b

In general, super-Earths are defined by their masses. The term does not imply temperatures, compositions, orbital properties, habitability, or environments. While sources generally agree on an upper bound of 10 Earth masses (~69% of the mass of Uranus, which is the Solar System's giant planet with the least mass), the lower bound varies from 1 or 1.9 to 5, with various other definitions appearing in the popular media. The term "super-Earth" is also used by astronomers to refer to planets bigger than Earth-like planets (from 0.8 to 1.2 Earth-radius), but smaller than mini-Neptunes (from 2 to 4 Earth-radii). This definition was made by the Kepler space telescope personnel.

Some authors further suggest that the term Super-Earth might be limited to rocky planets without a significant atmosphere, or planets that have not just atmospheres but also solid surfaces or oceans with a sharp boundary between liquid and atmosphere, which the four giant planets in the Solar System do not have. Planets above 10 Earth masses are termed massive solid planets, mega-Earths, or gas giant planets, depending on whether they are mostly made of rock and ice or mostly gas.

History and discoveries

Illustration of the inferred size of the super-Earth Kepler-10b (right) in comparison with Earth

First

Sizes of Kepler Planet Candidates – based on 2,740 candidates orbiting 2,036 stars as of November 4, 2013 (NASA)

The first super-Earths were discovered by Aleksander Wolszczan and Dale Frail around the pulsar PSR B1257+12 in 1992. The two outer planets (Poltergeist and Phobetor) of the system have masses approximately four times Earth—too small to be gas giants.

The first super-Earth around a main-sequence star was discovered by a team under Eugenio Rivera in 2005. It orbits Gliese 876 and received the designation Gliese 876 d (two Jupiter-sized gas giants had previously been discovered in that system). It has an estimated mass of 7.5 Earth masses and a very short orbital period of about 2 days. Due to the proximity of Gliese 876 d to its host star (a red dwarf), it may have a surface temperature of 430–650 kelvin and be too hot to support liquid water.

First in habitable zone

In April 2007, a team headed by Stéphane Udry based in Switzerland announced the discovery of two new super-Earths within the Gliese 581 planetary system, both on the edge of the habitable zone around the star where liquid water may be possible on the surface. With Gliese 581c having a mass of at least 5 Earth masses and a distance from Gliese 581 of 0.073 astronomical units (6.8 million mi, 11 million km), it is on the "warm" edge of the habitable zone around Gliese 581 with an estimated mean temperature (without considering effects from an atmosphere) of −3 degrees Celsius with an albedo comparable to Venus and 40 degrees Celsius with an albedo comparable to Earth. Subsequent research suggested Gliese 581c had likely suffered a runaway greenhouse effect like Venus.

Mass and radius values for transiting super-Earths in context of other detected exoplanets and selected composition models. The "Fe" line defines planets made purely of iron, and "H2O" for those made of water. Those between the two lines, and closer to the Fe line, are most likely solid rocky planets, while those near or above the water line are more likely gas and/or liquid. Planets in the Solar System are on the chart, labeled with their astronomical symbols.

Others by year

2006

Two further possible super-Earths were discovered in 2006: OGLE-2005-BLG-390Lb with a mass of 5.5 Earth masses, which was found by gravitational microlensing, and HD 69830 b with a mass of 10 Earth masses.

2008

The smallest super-Earth found as of 2008 was MOA-2007-BLG-192Lb. The planet was announced by astrophysicist David P. Bennett for the international MOA collaboration on June 2, 2008. This planet has approximately 3.3 Earth masses and orbits a brown dwarf. It was detected by gravitational microlensing.

In June 2008, European researchers announced the discovery of three super-Earths around the star HD 40307, a star that is only slightly less massive than the Sun. Planets have at least the following minimum masses: 4.2, 6.7, and 9.4 times Earth's. The planets were detected by the radial velocity method by the HARPS (High Accuracy Radial Velocity Planet Searcher) in Chile.

In addition, the same European research team announced a planet 7.5 times the mass of Earth orbiting the star HD 181433. This star also has a Jupiter-like planet that orbits it every three years.

2009

Planet COROT-7b, with a mass estimated at 4.8 Earth masses and an orbital period of only 0.853 days, was announced on 3 February 2009. The density estimate obtained for COROT-7b points to a composition including rocky silicate minerals similar to that of the Solar System's four inner planets, a new and significant discovery. COROT-7b, discovered right after HD 7924 b, is the first super-Earth discovered that orbits a main sequence star that is G class or larger.

The discovery of Gliese 581e with a minimum mass of 1.9 Earth masses was announced on 21 April 2009. It was at the time the smallest extrasolar planet discovered around a normal star and the closest in mass to Earth. Being at an orbital distance of just 0.03 AU and orbiting its star in just 3.15 days, it is not in the habitable zone, and may have 100 times more tidal heating than Jupiter's volcanic satellite Io.

A planet found in December 2009, GJ 1214 b, is 2.7 times as large as Earth and orbits a star much smaller and less luminous than the Sun. "This planet probably does have liquid water," said David Charbonneau, a Harvard professor of astronomy and lead author of an article on the discovery. However, interior models of this planet suggest that under most conditions it does not have liquid water.

By November 2009, a total of 30 super-Earths had been discovered, 24 of which were first observed by HARPS.

2010

Discovered on 5 January 2010, a planet HD 156668 b with a minimum mass of 4.15 Earth masses, is the least massive planet detected by the radial velocity method. The only confirmed radial velocity planet smaller than this planet is Gliese 581e at 1.9 Earth masses (see above). On 24 August, astronomers using ESO's HARPS instrument announced the discovery of a planetary system with up to seven planets orbiting a Sun-like star, HD 10180, one of which, although not yet confirmed, has an estimated minimum mass of 1.35 ± 0.23 times that of Earth, which would be the lowest mass of any exoplanet found to date orbiting a main-sequence star. Although unconfirmed, there is a 98.6% probability that this planet does exist.

The National Science Foundation announced on 29 September the discovery of a fourth super-Earth (Gliese 581g) orbiting within the Gliese 581 planetary system. The planet has a minimum mass 3.1 times that of Earth and a nearly circular orbit at 0.146 AU with a period of 36.6 days, placing it in the middle of the habitable zone where liquid water could exist and midway between the planets c and d. It was discovered using the radial velocity method by scientists at the University of California at Santa Cruz and the Carnegie Institution of Washington. However, the existence of Gliese 581 g has been questioned by another team of astronomers, and it is currently listed as unconfirmed at The Extrasolar Planets Encyclopaedia.

2011

On 2 February, the Kepler Space Observatory mission team released a list of 1235 extrasolar planet candidates, including 68 candidates of approximately "Earth-size" (Rp < 1.25 Re) and 288 candidates of "super-Earth-size" (1.25 Re < Rp < 2 Re). In addition, 54 planet candidates were detected in the "habitable zone." Six candidates in this zone were less than twice the size of the Earth A more recent study found that one of these candidates (KOI 326.01) is in fact much larger and hotter than first reported. Based on the latest Kepler findings, astronomer Seth Shostak estimates "within a thousand light-years of Earth" there are "at least 30,000 of these habitable worlds." Also based on the findings, the Kepler Team has estimated "at least 50 billion planets in the Milky Way" of which "at least 500 million" are in the habitable zone.

On 17 August, a potentially habitable super-Earth HD 85512 b was found using the HARPS as well as a three super-Earth system 82 G. Eridani. On HD 85512 b, it would be habitable if it exhibits more than 50% cloud cover. Then less than a month later, a flood of 41 new exoplanets, including 10 super-Earths, were announced.

On 5 December 2011, the Kepler space telescope discovered its first planet within the habitable zone or "Goldilocks region" of its Sun-like star. Kepler-22b is 2.4 times the radius of the Earth and occupies an orbit 15% closer to its star than the Earth to the Sun. This is compensated for, however, as the star, with a spectral type G5V, is slightly dimmer than the Sun (G2V). Thus, surface temperatures would still allow liquid water on its surface.

On 5 December 2011, the Kepler team announced that they had discovered 2,326 planetary candidates, of which 207 are similar in size to Earth, 680 are super-Earth-size, 1,181 are Neptune-size, 203 are Jupiter-size and 55 are larger than Jupiter. Compared to the February 2011 figures, the number of Earth-size and super-Earth-size planets increased by 200% and 140% respectively. Moreover, 48 planet candidates were found in the habitable zones of surveyed stars, marking a decrease from the February figure; this was due to the more stringent criteria in use in the December data.

Artist's impression of 55 Cancri e in front of its parent star

In 2011, a density of 55 Cancri e was calculated which turned out to be similar to Earth's. At the size of about 2 Earth radii, it was the largest planet until 2014, which was determined to lack a significant hydrogen atmosphere.

On 20 December 2011, the Kepler team announced the discovery of the first Earth-size exoplanets, Kepler-20e and Kepler-20f, orbiting a Sun-like star, Kepler-20.

Planet Gliese 667 Cb (GJ 667 Cb) was announced by HARPS on 19 October 2009, together with 29 other planets, while Gliese 667 Cc (GJ 667 Cc) was included in a paper published on 21 November 2011. More detailed data on Gliese 667 Cc were published in early February 2012.

2012

In September 2012, the discovery of two planets orbiting Gliese 163 was announced. One of the planets, Gliese 163 c, about 6.9 times the mass of Earth and somewhat hotter, was considered to be within the habitable zone.

2013

On 7 January 2013, astronomers from the Kepler space observatory announced the discovery of Kepler-69c (formerly KOI-172.02), an Earth-like exoplanet candidate (1.5 times the radius of Earth) orbiting a star similar to the Sun in the habitable zone and possibly a "prime candidate to host alien life".

In April 2013, using observations by NASA's Kepler mission team led by William Borucki, of the agency's Ames Research Center, found five planets orbiting in the habitable zone of a Sun-like star, Kepler-62, 1,200 light years from Earth. These new super-Earths have radii of 1.3, 1.4, 1.6, and 1.9 times that of Earth. Theoretical modelling of two of these super-Earths, Kepler-62e and Kepler-62f, suggests both could be solid, either rocky or rocky with frozen water.

On 25 June 2013, three "super Earth" planets have been found orbiting a nearby star at a distance where life in theory could exist, according to a record-breaking tally announced on Tuesday by the European Southern Observatory. They are part of a cluster of as many as seven planets that circle Gliese 667C, one of three stars located a relatively close 22 light years from Earth in the constellation of Scorpio, it said. The planets orbit Gliese 667C in the so-called Goldilocks Zone — a distance from the star at which the temperature is just right for water to exist in liquid form rather than being stripped away by stellar radiation or locked permanently in ice.

2014

In May 2014, previously discovered Kepler-10c was determined to have the mass comparable to Neptune (17 Earth masses). With the radius of 2.35 R🜨, it is currently the largest known planet likely to have a predominantly rocky composition. At 17 Earth masses, it is well above the 10 Earth mass upper limit that is commonly used for the term 'super-Earth' so the term mega-Earth has been proposed. However, in July 2017, more careful analysis of HARPS-N and HIRES data showed that Kepler-10c was much less massive than originally thought, instead around 7.37 (6.18 to 8.69) ME with a mean density of 3.14 g/cm. Instead of a primarily rocky composition, the more accurately determined mass of Kepler-10c suggests a world made almost entirely of volatiles, mainly water.

2015

On 6 January 2015, NASA announced the 1000th confirmed exoplanet discovered by the Kepler space telescope. Three of the newly confirmed exoplanets were found to orbit within habitable zones of their related stars: two of the three, Kepler-438b and Kepler-442b, are near-Earth-size and likely rocky; the third, Kepler-440b, is a super-Earth.

On 30 July 2015, Astronomy & Astrophysics said they found a planetary system with three super-Earths orbiting a bright, dwarf star. The four-planet system, dubbed HD 219134, had been found 21 light years from Earth in the M-shaped northern hemisphere of constellation Cassiopeia, but it is not in the habitable zone of its star. The planet with the shortest orbit is HD 219134 b, and is Earth's closest known rocky, and transiting, exoplanet.

2016

In February 2016, it was announced that NASA's Hubble Space Telescope had detected hydrogen and helium (and suggestions of hydrogen cyanide), but no water vapor, in the atmosphere of 55 Cancri e, the first time the atmosphere of a super-Earth exoplanet was analyzed successfully.

In August 2016, astronomers announced the detection of Proxima b, an Earth-sized exoplanet that is in the habitable zone of the red dwarf star Proxima Centauri, the closest star to the Sun. Due to its closeness to Earth, Proxima b may be a flyby destination for a fleet of interstellar StarChip spacecraft currently being developed by the Breakthrough Starshot project.

2018

In February 2018, K2-141b, a rocky ultra-short period planet (USP) Super-Earth, with a period of 0.28 days orbiting the host star K2-141 (EPIC 246393474) was reported. Another Super-Earth, K2-155d, is discovered.

In July 2018, the discovery of 40 Eridani b was announced. At 16 light-years it is the closest super-Earth known, and its star is the second-brightest hosting a super-Earth.

2019

In July 2019, the discovery of GJ 357 d was announced. Thirty-one light-years from the Solar System, the planet is at least 6.1 ME.

2021

In 2021, the exoplanet G 9-40 b was discovered.

2022

In 2022, the discovery of a super-Earth around the red dwarf star Ross 508 was reported. Part of the planet's elliptical orbit takes it within the habitable zone.

2024

On 31 January 2024 NASA reported the discovery of a super-Earth called TOI-715 b located in the habitable zone of a red dwarf star about 137 light-years away.

In Solar system

Main article: Planet Nine

The Solar System contains no known super-Earths, because Earth is the largest terrestrial planet in the Solar System, and all larger planets have both at least 14 times the mass of Earth and thick gaseous envelopes without well-defined rocky or watery surfaces; that is, they are either gas giants or ice giants, not terrestrial planets. In January 2016, the existence of a hypothetical super-Earth ninth planet in the Solar System, referred to as Planet Nine, was proposed as an explanation for the orbital behavior of six trans-Neptunian objects, but it is speculated to also be an ice giant like Uranus or Neptune. A refined model in 2019 constrains it to around five Earth masses; planets of this mass are probably mini-Neptunes.

The fact that there are barely any asteroids or planetesimals inside the orbit of Mercury led some astronomers believing that a super-Earth might have formed in proximity to the Sun, cleared its neighborhood and rapidly get disrupted by the Sun.

Characteristics

Density and bulk composition

Comparison of sizes of planets with different compositions

Due to the larger mass of super-Earths, their physical characteristics may differ from Earth's; theoretical models for super-Earths provide four possible main compositions according to their density: low-density super-Earths are inferred to be composed mainly of hydrogen and helium (mini-Neptunes); super-Earths of intermediate density are inferred to either have water as a major constituent (ocean planets), or have a denser core enshrouded with an extended gaseous envelope (gas dwarf or sub-Neptune). A super-Earth of high density is believed to be rocky and/or metallic, like Earth and the other terrestrial planets of the Solar System. A super-Earth's interior could be undifferentiated, partially differentiated, or completely differentiated into layers of different composition. Researchers at Harvard Astronomy Department have developed user-friendly online tools to characterize the bulk composition of the super-Earths. A study on Gliese 876 d by a team around Diana Valencia revealed that it would be possible to infer from a radius measured by the transit method of detecting planets and the mass of the relevant planet what the structural composition is. For Gliese 876 d, calculations range from 9,200 km (1.4 Earth radii) for a rocky planet and very large iron core to 12,500 km (2.0 Earth radii) for a watery and icy planet. Within this range of radii the super-Earth Gliese 876 d would have a surface gravity between 1.9g and 3.3g (19 and 32 m/s). However, this planet is not known to transit its host star.

The limit between rocky planets and planets with a thick gaseous envelope is calculated with theoretical models. Calculating the effect of the active XUV saturation phase of G-type stars over the loss of the primitive nebula-captured hydrogen envelopes in extrasolar planets, it's obtained that planets with a core mass of more than 1.5 Earth-mass (1.15 Earth-radius max.), most likely cannot get rid of their nebula captured hydrogen envelopes during their whole lifetime. Other calculations point out that the limit between envelope-free rocky super-Earths and sub-Neptunes is around 1.75 Earth-radii, as 2 Earth-radii would be the upper limit to be rocky (a planet with 2 Earth-radii and 5 Earth-masses with a mean Earth-like core composition would imply that 1/200 of its mass would be in a H/He envelope, with an atmospheric pressure near to 2.0 GPa or 20,000 bar). Whether or not the primitive nebula-captured H/He envelope of a super-Earth is entirely lost after formation also depends on the orbital distance. For example, formation and evolution calculations of the Kepler-11 planetary system show that the two innermost planets Kepler-11b and c, whose calculated mass is ≈2 M🜨 and between ≈5 and 6 M🜨 respectively (which are within measurement errors), are extremely vulnerable to envelope loss. In particular, the complete removal of the primordial H/He envelope by energetic stellar photons appears almost inevitable in the case of Kepler-11b, regardless of its formation hypothesis.

If a super-Earth is detectable by both the radial-velocity and the transit methods, then both its mass and its radius can be determined; thus its average bulk density can be calculated. The actual empirical observations are giving similar results as theoretical models, as it's found that planets larger than approximately 1.6 Earth-radius (more massive than approximately 6 Earth-masses) contain significant fractions of volatiles or H/He gas (such planets appear to have a diversity of compositions that is not well-explained by a single mass-radius relation as that found in rocky planets). After measuring 65 super-Earths smaller than 4 Earth-radii, the empirical data points out that Gas Dwarves would be the most usual composition: there is a trend where planets with radii up to 1.5 Earth-radii increase in density with increasing radius, but above 1.5 radii the average planet density rapidly decreases with increasing radius, indicating that these planets have a large fraction of volatiles by volume overlying a rocky core. Another discovery about exoplanets' composition is that about the gap or rarity observed for planets between 1.5 and 2.0 Earth-radii, which is explained by a bimodal formation of planets (rocky Super-Earths below 1.75 and sub-Neptunes with thick gas envelopes being above such radii).

Additional studies, conducted with lasers at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and the OMEGA laboratory at the University of Rochester, show that the magnesium-silicate internal regions of the planet would undergo phase changes under the immense pressures and temperatures of a super-Earth planet, and that the different phases of this liquid magnesium silicate would separate into layers.

Geologic activity

Further theoretical work by Valencia and others suggests that super-Earths would be more geologically active than Earth, with more vigorous plate tectonics due to thinner plates under more stress. In fact, their models suggested that Earth was itself a "borderline" case, just barely large enough to sustain plate tectonics. These findings were corroborated by van Heck et al., who determined that plate tectonics may be more likely on super-Earths than on Earth itself, assuming similar composition. However, other studies determined that strong convection currents in the mantle acting on strong gravity would make the crust stronger and thus inhibit plate tectonics. The planet's surface would be too strong for the forces of magma to break the crust into plates.

Evolution

New research suggests that the rocky centres of super-Earths are unlikely to evolve into terrestrial rocky planets like the inner planets of the Solar System because they appear to hold on to their large atmospheres. Rather than evolving into a planet composed mainly of rock with a thin atmosphere, the small rocky core remains engulfed by its large hydrogen-rich envelope.

Theoretical models show that Hot Jupiters and Hot Neptunes can evolve by hydrodynamic loss of their atmospheres to Mini-Neptunes (as it could be the Super-Earth GJ 1214 b), or even to rocky planets known as chthonian planets (after migrating towards the proximity of their parent star). The amount of the outermost layers that is lost depends on the size and the material of the planet and the distance from the star. In a typical system, a gas giant orbiting 0.02 AU around its parent star loses 5–7% of its mass during its lifetime, but orbiting closer than 0.015 AU can mean evaporation of the whole planet except for its core.

The low densities inferred from observations imply that a fraction of the super-Earth population has substantial H/He envelopes, which may have been even more massive soon after formation. Therefore, contrary to the terrestrial planets of the solar system, these super-Earths must have formed during the gas-phase of their progenitor protoplanetary disk.

Temperatures

Since the atmospheres, albedo and greenhouse effects of super-Earths are unknown, the surface temperatures are unknown and generally only an equilibrium temperature is given. For example, the black-body temperature of the Earth is 255.3 K (−18 °C or 0 °F ). It is the greenhouse gases that keep the Earth warmer. Venus has a black-body temperature of only 184.2 K (−89 °C or −128 °F ) even though Venus has a true temperature of 737 K (464 °C or 867 °F ). Though the atmosphere of Venus traps more heat than Earth's, NASA lists the black-body temperature of Venus based on the fact that Venus has an extremely high albedo (Bond albedo 0.90, Visual geometric albedo 0.67), giving it a lower black body temperature than the more absorbent (lower albedo) Earth.

Magnetic field

Earth's magnetic field results from its flowing liquid metallic core, but in super-Earths the mass can produce high pressures with large viscosities and high melting temperatures, which could prevent the interiors from separating into different layers and so result in undifferentiated coreless mantles. Magnesium oxide, which is rocky on Earth, can be a liquid metal at the pressures and temperatures found in super-Earths and could generate a magnetic field in the mantles of super-Earths. That said, super-Earth magnetic fields are yet to be detected observationally.

Habitability

Further information: Planetary habitability and astrobiology

According to one hypothesis, super-Earths of about two Earth masses may be conducive to life. The higher surface gravity would lead to a thicker atmosphere, increased surface erosion and hence a flatter topography. The result could be an "archipelago planet" of shallow oceans dotted with island chains ideally suited for biodiversity. A more massive planet of two Earth masses would also retain more heat within its interior from its initial formation much longer, sustaining plate tectonics (which is vital for regulating the carbon cycle and hence the climate) for longer. The thicker atmosphere and stronger magnetic field would also shield life on the surface against harmful cosmic rays.

See also

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