Smallest exoplanet is the size of Mars

摘要

Hot on the heels of last month's discovery of the first Earth-size alien world comes news of the first exoMars. At half the size of Earth, KOI-961.03 is the smallest exoplanet yet found around a living star. At 200 ℃, it is too hot for life, but its discovery boosts the chances of finding other, more life-friendly planets. NASA's Kepler space telescope detected the Mars-sized planet when it passed in front of its parent star, temporarily blocking some of its light.