TrES-4b
TrES-4 is an exoplanet. It orbits around the star GSC 02620-00648. The planet is 4.5 million miles from its sun. Being this close to its sun, the year on TrES-4 about three days long.[1][2] This makes the temperature on the planet very hot. In fact, the temperature on TrES-4 is about 2,300 degrees Fahrenheit (1,260 degrees Celsius).[1]
TrES-4 is a gas giant that is 70 percent bigger than Jupiter.[1][3] However, the planet is only as dense as cork.[1] At the time of its discovery, TrES-4b was the largest known planet in the universe.
Discovery
The planet was found by Georgi Mandushev at the Lowell Observatory in Arizona.[4] Mandushev discovered the planet as a part of the Trans-Atlantic Exoplanet Survey project.[5]
TrES-4 was discovered using the transit method. When an exoplanet passes between its sun and the Earth, astronomers can see a change in light from the star.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Minard, Anne. Largest Known Planet Found, Has Density of Cork. news.nationalgeographic.com (2011). Retrieved 6 February 2011.
- ↑ Largest Known Exoplanet Discovered | Space.com. space.com (2011). Retrieved 6 February 2011.
- ↑ Miller, Barbara. New monster planet 'could float on water' - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). abc.net.au (2011). Retrieved 6 February 2011.
- ↑ Mandushev, Georgi. TrES-4: A Transiting Hot Jupiter of Very Low Density. The Astrophysical Journal Letters 667 (2) (2007). p. L195–L198. doi:10.1086/522115.
- ↑ Largest known exoplanet puzzles astronomers - space - 06 August 2007 - New Scientist. newscientist.com (2011). Retrieved 6 February 2011.
