Astronomy magazine podcast: New exoplanet

Senior Editor Rich Talcott explains what the discovery of a new exoplanet means for the search for other Earths.
By | Published: April 26, 2007 | Last updated on May 18, 2023

The Planetary System in Gliese 581
Artist’s impression of the planetary system around the red dwarf Gliese 581. Using the instrument HARPS on the ESO 3.6m telescope, astronomers have uncovered 3 planets, all of relative low-mass: 5, 8 and 15 Earth masses. The five Earth-mass planet makes a full orbit around the star in 13 days, the other two in 5 and 84 days.
ESO
April 26, 2007
Astronomers have discovered the most earthlike planet outside our solar system to date, an exoplanet with a radius only 50% larger than the Earth and possibly having liquid water on its surface.

In this week’s show, Rich Talcott tells you all we know about this new discovery.

After you listen, e-mail us here and let us know what you think.

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