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Has a new Super-Earth been discovered? + Moon cruising past Mars and Saturn in our night skies
Recently discovered Gliese 382c is more like a super-Venus than a super-Earth.PHL/UPR Arecibo
Another “Super-Earth”?
Astronomers at the University of New South Wales recently announced they had discovered a “super-Earth” orbiting around a red dwarf star called Gliese 382.
What is interesting about this is that it is only about 16 light years away from us. But before you pack your bags for a visit, consider that these days the phrases “Earth-like” and “super-Earth” are unfortunately used a little too readily.
Known only as Gliese 382c, the planet is about 5 times more massive than Earth. It is only 15 million miles from its dim red dwarf sun. This is less than half the distance between our Sun and the Mercury.
In addition to crushing gravity, it probably has a very thick dense atmosphere with perhaps a blazing hot Venus-like greenhouse effect. It is so close to its sun that it could be “locked” with one side facing its star which likely emits deadly X-rays from massive flares.
Rather than a super-Earth, it sounds more like they have found a super-Venus.
Source: http://www.ascensionearth2012.org/2014/07/has-new-super-earth-been-discovered.html
Find the Moon and look for Mars directly above the Moon. The constellation Virgo lies in the background. Its bright star Spica can be found to the left of the Moon. You can see Mars, the Moon and Spica together until about midnight.
By Monday night the Moon will reach Saturn in the constellation Libra. Again go outside as soon as it gets dark and find the Moon. Saturn appears directly above the Moon. They are visible until about 1 a.m.