Exoplanet GJ 1132b: Earth-size World Is Near-Twin of Venus (Infographic)

By Karl Tate
published

Facts about planet GJ1132b
A planet close to its parent star is hot like Venus, but rotates quickly and could have a substantial atmosphere. (Image credit: by Karl Tate, Infographics artist)

A planet close to its parent star is hot like Venus, but rotates quickly and could have a substantial atmosphere. 

FULL STORY: Closest Earth-size Alien Planet Found, May Be a Venus Twin

Called GJ 1132b, the exoplanet is located 39 light-years from Earth and is the closest Earth-size planet of its kind, scientists say. In fact, the planet may be a potential twin of Venus. 

GJ 1132b is about 9,200 miles (14,800 km) wide and has a mass that is abotu 1.6 times that of the Earth. It circles its planet superfast, completing a single "year" in about 1.6 Earth days. Its orbit brings it closer to its parent star than Mercury is to our sun.

VIDEO: Alien Planet GJ 1132b Explained

The average temperature of GJ 1132b is about 440 degrees Fahrenheit, or about 227 degrees Celsius. The exoplanet is tidally locked, so that one side is always facing its parent star. 

Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: community@space.com.

Karl Tate
Karl Tate
Space.com contributor

Karl's association with Space.com goes back to 2000, when he was hired to produce interactive Flash graphics. From 2010 to 2016, Karl worked as an infographics specialist across all editorial properties of Purch (formerly known as TechMediaNetwork).  Before joining Space.com, Karl spent 11 years at the New York headquarters of The Associated Press, creating news graphics for use around the world in newspapers and on the web.  He has a degree in graphic design from Louisiana State University and now works as a freelance graphic designer in New York City.