Exoplanet 55CE Summary.

55 Cancri e is an exoplanet located in the constellation of Cancer. It is also known as "Janssen" after the Dutch astronomer Zacharias Janssen, who invented the first optical telescope. This exoplanet was discovered orbiting the star 55 Cancri A, which is a G-type main-sequence star similar to our Sun.

Key facts about 55 Cancri e:

Composition: 55 Cancri e is a "super-Earth" exoplanet, which means it is larger and more massive than Earth but still smaller than ice giants like Neptune and Uranus.

Orbit and Year: The exoplanet has a very close orbit to its parent star, completing one full orbit in only about 18 hours. Consequently, it is in a tidally locked state, where one side always faces the star.

Temperature: Due to its close proximity to its host star, 55 Cancri e experiences extreme temperatures. The side facing the star is intensely hot, with temperatures soaring to around 2,000 degrees Celsius (3,630 degrees Fahrenheit), making it one of the hottest exoplanets known.

Atmosphere: Initially, scientists thought 55 Cancri e might have a thick atmosphere composed mainly of hydrogen and helium. However, further research and observations have suggested that it might have a rocky, Earth-like composition without a substantial atmosphere.

Diamond Planet: One of the intriguing aspects of 55 Cancri e is the speculation that it could contain vast amounts of carbon in the form of diamond. The high temperatures and pressures on the planet might cause carbon to crystallize into diamond, making it a potential "diamond planet."

Exoplanet Characterization: Information about exoplanets like 55 Cancri e is typically gathered through a combination of methods, including the transit method (monitoring the dip in the star's brightness as the planet passes in front of it) and the radial velocity method (detecting the wobble of the star caused by the planet's gravitational pull).

Please note that scientific knowledge and research about exoplanets are continually evolving as new discoveries are made. For the most up-to-date information about 55 Cancri e and other exoplanets, it's always best to refer to current sources from reputable space agencies and scientific organizations.