How to See a Super Earth

Spitzer_ssc2012-07c_1024

spitzer_ssc2012-07c May 8th, 2012

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/R. Hurt (IPAC)

NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope was able to detect a super Earth's direct light for the first time using its sensitive heat-seeking infrared vision. Super Earths are more massive than Earth but lighter than gas giants like Neptune. As this artist's concept shows, in visible light, a planet is lost in the glare of its star (top view). When viewed in infrared, the planet becomes brighter relative to its star. This is largely due to the fact that the planet's scorching heat blazes with infrared light. Even on our own bodies emanate more infrared light than visible due to our heat.

Spitzer cannot distinguish between the planet and star -- it just sees the total light of the system. However, its infrared eyes can see the dip in total light that occurs as a planet passes behind its star (the dip is minuscule when viewed in visible light). The resulting drop then reveals how much direct light comes from the planet itself. This information can be used to determine a planet's temperature, and in some cases, composition. For 55 Cancri e, the Spitzer observations indicated that the planet is very dark and that its sun-facing side is scorching hot, about 2,000 kelvins (3,140 degrees Fahrenheit).

Provider: Spitzer Space Telescope

Image Source: http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/images/5152-ssc2012-07c-How-to-See-a-Super-Earth

Curator: Spitzer Space Telescope, Pasadena, CA, USA

Image Use Policy: Public Domain

View Options

Image Details

Image Type
Artwork
Spitzer_ssc2012-07c_1280
×
ID
ssc2012-07c
Subject Category
Subject Name
Credits
NASA/JPL-Caltech/R. Hurt (IPAC)
Release Date
2012-05-08
Lightyears
Redshift
Reference Url
http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/images/5152-ssc2012-07c-How-to-See-a-Super-Earth
Type
Artwork
Image Quality
Good
Distance Notes
Facility
Instrument
Color Assignment
Band
Bandpass
Central Wavelength
Start Time
Integration Time
Dataset ID
Notes
Coordinate Frame
Equinox
Reference Value
Reference Dimension
Reference Pixel
Scale
Rotation
Coordinate System Projection:
Quality
FITS Header
Notes
Creator (Curator)
Spitzer Space Telescope
URL
http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu
Name
Email
Telephone
Address
1200 E. California Blvd.
City
Pasadena
State/Province
CA
Postal Code
91125
Country
USA
Rights
Public Domain
Publisher
Spitzer Science Center
Publisher ID
spitzer
Resource ID
ssc2012-07c.tif
Metadata Date
2017-03-13
Metadata Version
1.1
×

 

Detailed color mapping information coming soon...

×

There is no distance meta data in this image.

 

Providers | Sign In