A sub-Mercury-sized exoplanet

作者：Barclay Thomas^*; Rowe Jason F; Lissauer Jack J; Huber Daniel; Fressin Francois; Howell Steve B; Bryson Stephen T; Chaplin William J; Deseret Jean Michel; Lopez Eric D; Marcy Geoffrey W; Mullally Fergal; Ragozzine Darin; Torres Guillermo; Adams Elisabeth R; Agol Eric; Barrado David; Basu Sarbani; Bedding Timothy R; Buchhave Lars A; Charbonneau David; Christiansen Jessie L; Christensen Dalsgaard Jorgen; Ciardi David; Cochran William D; Dupree Andrea K

来源：Nature, 2013, 494(7438): 452-454.

DOI：10.1038/nature11914

Since the discovery of the first exoplanets(1,2), it has been known that other planetary systems can look quite unlike our own(3). Until fairly recently, we have been able to probe only the upper range of the planet size distribution(4,5), and, since last year, to detect planets that are the size of Earth(6) or somewhat smaller(7). Hitherto, no planets have been found that are smaller than those we see in the Solar System. Here we report a planet significantly smaller than Mercury(8). This tiny planet is the innermost of three that orbit the Sun-like host star, which we have designated Kepler-37. Owing to its extremely small size, similar to that of the Moon, and highly irradiated surface, the planet, Kepler-37b, is probably rocky with no atmosphere or water, similar to Mercury.

• 出版日期2013-2-28