Bigger Than Earth: Super-Earth Exoplanets Quiz

A planet with mass between Earth and Neptune is the correct answer. The "Super" refers only to its size and mass; it does not necessarily mean the planet is exactly like Earth in terms of temperature or life.

False. Our solar system has a "size gap." We have small rocky planets (Earth/Venus) and large ice giants (Neptune/Uranus), but nothing in between. This makes Super-Earths especially interesting to scientists.

Mixture is the correct answer. Some Super-Earths are "rocky" like scaled-up versions of Earth, while others might have very thick atmospheres, making them more like "Mini-Neptunes."

Rocky, Water World, and Gas Dwarf are the correct answers. Because Super-Earths cover a range of sizes, their environments can vary wildly depending on how much gas they were able to pull in during formation.

Much stronger is the correct answer. Because a Super-Earth has more mass than our planet, its gravitational pull is much more powerful. You would feel significantly heavier and might find it difficult to walk!

False. Super-Earths can be found at any distance from their stars. Some are "Hot Super-Earths" that orbit so close they are covered in molten lava, while others are frozen solid in the outer system.

Water is the correct answer. Some scientists believe that Super-Earths forming far from their stars could be composed of up to 50% water, creating oceans hundreds of miles deep.

Their larger size blocks more starlight is the correct answer. In the Transit Method, a larger planet creates a more noticeable "dip" in a star's brightness, making it easier for us to detect from trillions of miles away.

Volcanoes, atmospheres, and tectonics are the correct answers. Many scientists believe the internal heat of a Super-Earth would lead to a very active geology, though rings are usually found around much larger gas giants.

10 times Earth is the correct answer. Generally, planets with a mass 1 to 10 times that of Earth are called Super-Earths. Above that, they usually have enough gravity to hold onto so much gas that they become Ice Giants.

True. Observations from the Kepler Space Telescope suggest that Super-Earths and Mini-Neptunes are the "standard" planet type in our galaxy, making our solar system look a bit unusual.

Pulsar is the correct answer. In 1992, planets were found orbiting pulsar PSR B1257+12. It was a surprise because scientists didn't think planets could survive the death of a star.

Distance and formation is the correct answer. Planets that form close to a star often have their gas stripped away, while those further out can keep a thick "envelope" of hydrogen and helium.

Atmosphere evolution, habitability, and solar system history are the correct answers. By seeing "bigger" versions of Earth, we learn more about how our own planet's size affects its ability to support life.

True. Because of their large iron cores and high internal pressure, they could generate very powerful magnetic fields, which would protect their atmospheres from solar radiation.

Melt is the correct answer. On planets like 55 Cancri e, the side facing the star is so hot (over 4,000°F) that the surface is a constant, glowing sea of liquid rock.

Super-Earth is the correct answer. Planets with a radius between 1.25 and 2 times Earth's radius are almost always classified as Super-Earths.

High gravity, high pressure, and tectonic issues are the correct answers. While they could be habitable, the conditions would be much more "extreme" than what we experience on Earth.

Kepler is the correct answer. The Kepler Space Telescope was specifically designed to look for these types of worlds by watching thousands of stars at once for transits.

False. While we can look for "biosignatures" (chemical signs of life) in the atmosphere using the James Webb telescope, we cannot see the surface well enough to identify plants or green colors yet.