"Super Earth" May Really Be New Planet Type: Super-Io

Most Earthlike planet CoRoT-7b more like volcanic Jupiter moon, study says



Victoria Jaggard
National Geographic News
Published February 5, 2010

Oceans of lava might bubble on its surface. Hot pebbles may rain down from the sky. But the extrasolar planet CoRoT-7b is considered to be the most Earthlike world yet found outside our solar system.

A recent study, however, suggests that Earth might not be the best basis for comparison. Instead, the authors argue, CoRoT-7b is the first in a new class of exoplanets: a super-Io.

Like Jupiter's moon Io, CoRoT-7b could easily be in the right kind of orbit to experience what's known as tidal heating, according to study co-author Rory Barnes of the University of Washington in Seattle.

On Io, tidal heating is a result of the crust being constantly deformed by the push and pull of Jupiter's gravity. This action generates enough internal heat to drive hundreds of active volcanoes—and the same could be true for CoRoT-7b, Barnes said.

more:

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/02/100205-new-type-planet-corot-7b-io/

i have to admit that it looks like the bottom of a party pizza that has been left in 2 minutes too long.

or maybe i just have pizza on the brain.

after the crazies get done with it.

Not to worry. They will just climb into their space transports and infest some other Galaxy.