Gliese 1214 b

Gliese 1214 b is an exoplanet located in the constellation Ophiuchus, approximately 40 light-years away from Earth. It was discovered in 2009 by the MEarth Project, which uses a network of ground-based telescopes to search for small, rocky planets around nearby stars.

Gliese 1214 b is classified as a super-Earth, meaning it has a mass and radius greater than Earth but smaller than that of gas giants like Jupiter. It orbits a red dwarf star, Gliese 1214, every 1.6 Earth days at a distance of only 2 million kilometers (1.2 million miles), making it a very hot planet with surface temperatures reaching up to 450 degrees Celsius (840 degrees Fahrenheit).

One of the most intriguing features of Gliese 1214 b is its atmosphere, which has been extensively studied using the Hubble Space Telescope and other observatories. Observations suggest that the planet's atmosphere is primarily composed of hydrogen and helium, with some evidence of water vapor and other molecules.

The high temperatures and proximity to its star make Gliese 1214 b an unlikely candidate for supporting life as we know it. However, its close proximity to Earth and relatively small size make it an important target for future studies of exoplanet atmospheres and the potential for habitability in other parts of the galaxy.

Overall, Gliese 1214 b represents an important step forward in our understanding of exoplanets and the diversity of planetary systems in the universe.