CoRoT-7
system
CoRoT-7 — an orange Sun-like star ~522 light-years away in Monoceros, host to CoRoT-7 b: the FIRST exoplanet confirmed to be ROCKY (2009), and a lava world. Its dayside is hot enough to melt rock, and models suggest it may 'rain' minerals. Descend to explore it.
Open in 3D viewSee CoRoT-7 in the live, interactive 3D map
Science
Classification
- Type
- Planetary system
- Distance
- ~522 light-years · its real distance from the Sun
- Explore
- Descend to see the star and its confirmed planets
How we know
- Note
- A real star system, shown at its measured position in the galaxy. Its star and confirmed planets — their measured sizes and how each was found — are on the cards inside; descend to explore them. Distances follow Gaia parallax; planet data follow the NASA Exoplanet Archive.
Discovery & history
- Name
- A designation from the French-led CoRoT space telescope.
When CoRoT-7 b's density was measured in 2009 it became the first exoplanet proven to be a solid, rocky body rather than a gas ball — a landmark. Orbiting in just 20.5 hours, its star-facing side is a magma ocean; some models even predict a rock-vapour atmosphere and mineral rain.
Images
Images from open archives · credit shown per image