科学家发现神秘行星与地球质量相同

时间：2014-01-10 08:42:20

（单词翻译:单击）

Scientists believe one in five stars in our galaxy1 have Earth-like planets orbiting them.

科学家发现在距离地球200光年的地方有一颗与地球质量相同的神秘行星。
Earth's gassy twin as been discovered in another solar system 200 light years away.
Earth's gassy twin as been discovered in another solar system 200 light years away.
 
But the ultimate goal of finding a world that truly resembles our own has continued to elude2（逃避） astronomers4.
 
Now researchers have come a step closer by finding Earth's gassy（气体的） twin in another solar system 200 light years away.
 
It orbits a dim red dwarf5 star at such a close distance that temperatures on its surface could be as high as 104°C - too hot for most forms of life on Earth.
 
KOI-314C is only 30 per cent more dense6 than water. This suggests that the world is enveloped7 by a blanket of hydrogen and helium hundreds of miles thick.
 
Scientists believe it may have started life as a mini-Neptune before some of its atmospheric8 gases were blasted away by intense radiation from the parent star.
 
'This planet might have the same mass as Earth, but it is certainly not Earth-like,' said lead astronomer3 Dr David Kipping from the Harvard-Smithsonian Centre for Astrophysics.
 
'It proves that there is no clear dividing line between rocky worlds like Earth and fluffier9 planets like water worlds or gas giants.'
 
The findings were presented at the annual meeting of the American Astronomical10 Society in Washington DC.
 
To weigh KOI-314c, the scientists used a new technique called transit11 timing12 variations (TTV), which only works when more than one planet orbits a star.
 
The two planets tug13 on each other, slightly altering the time they take to cross or 'transit' the star's face.
 
Analysing the way the planetary wobbles（摇晃） affect light coming from the star makes it possible to calculate their mass.
 
KOI-314c's companion world is similar to it in size but weighs four times more than the Earth.
 
The new discovery was made by chance as scientists scoured14 data from the Kepler space telescope looking for evidence of moons rather than planets.
 
'When we noticed this planet showed transit timing variations, the signature was clearly due to the other planet in the system and not a moon,' said Dr Kipping.
 
'At first we were disappointed it wasn't a moon, but then we soon realised it was an extraordinary measurement.'

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1 galaxy OhoxB     
n.星系；银河系；一群(杰出或著名的人物)
参考例句：
  • The earth is one of the planets in the Galaxy.地球是银河系中的星球之一。
  • The company has a galaxy of talent.该公司拥有一批优秀的人才。
2 elude hjuzc     
v.躲避，困惑
参考例句：
  • If you chase it,it will elude you.如果你追逐着它， 它会躲避你。
  • I had dared and baffled his fury.I must elude his sorrow.我曾经面对过他的愤怒，并且把它挫败了；现在我必须躲避他的悲哀。
3 astronomer DOEyh     
n.天文学家
参考例句：
  • A new star attracted the notice of the astronomer.新发现的一颗星引起了那位天文学家的注意。
  • He is reputed to have been a good astronomer.他以一个优秀的天文学者闻名于世。
4 astronomers 569155f16962e086bd7de77deceefcbd     
n.天文学者，天文学家( astronomer的名词复数 )
参考例句：
  • Astronomers can accurately foretell the date,time,and length of future eclipses. 天文学家能精确地预告未来日食月食的日期、时刻和时长。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Astronomers used to ask why only Saturn has rings. 天文学家们过去一直感到奇怪，为什么只有土星有光环。 来自《简明英汉词典》
5 dwarf EkjzH     
n.矮子，侏儒，矮小的动植物；vt.使…矮小
参考例句：
  • The dwarf's long arms were not proportional to his height.那侏儒的长臂与他的身高不成比例。
  • The dwarf shrugged his shoulders and shook his head. 矮子耸耸肩膀，摇摇头。
6 dense aONzX     
a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的
参考例句：
  • The general ambushed his troops in the dense woods. 将军把部队埋伏在浓密的树林里。
  • The path was completely covered by the dense foliage. 小路被树叶厚厚地盖了一层。
7 enveloped 8006411f03656275ea778a3c3978ff7a     
v.包围，笼罩，包住( envelop的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
  • She was enveloped in a huge white towel. 她裹在一条白色大毛巾里。
  • Smoke from the burning house enveloped the whole street. 燃烧着的房子冒出的浓烟笼罩了整条街。 来自《简明英汉词典》
8 atmospheric 6eayR     
adj.大气的，空气的；大气层的；大气所引起的
参考例句：
  • Sea surface temperatures and atmospheric circulation are strongly coupled.海洋表面温度与大气环流是密切相关的。
  • Clouds return radiant energy to the surface primarily via the atmospheric window.云主要通过大气窗区向地表辐射能量。
9 fluffier 8f19dc91cfcd5399eaae078e88ea759b     
adj.似绒毛的( fluffy的比较级 )；有绒毛的；蓬松的；轻软状的
参考例句：
  • They will get softer and fluffier with each wash. 他们将得到更柔软，每洗柔软。 来自互联网
10 astronomical keTyO     
adj.天文学的，（数字）极大的
参考例句：
  • He was an expert on ancient Chinese astronomical literature.他是研究中国古代天文学文献的专家。
  • Houses in the village are selling for astronomical prices.乡村的房价正在飙升。
11 transit MglzVT     
n.经过，运输；vt.穿越，旋转；vi.越过
参考例句：
  • His luggage was lost in transit.他的行李在运送中丢失。
  • The canal can transit a total of 50 ships daily.这条运河每天能通过50条船。
12 timing rgUzGC     
n.时间安排，时间选择
参考例句：
  • The timing of the meeting is not convenient.会议的时间安排不合适。
  • The timing of our statement is very opportune.我们发表声明选择的时机很恰当。
13 tug 5KBzo     
v.用力拖(或拉)；苦干；n.拖；苦干；拖船
参考例句：
  • We need to tug the car round to the front.我们需要把那辆车拉到前面。
  • The tug is towing three barges.那只拖船正拖着三只驳船。
14 scoured ed55d3b2cb4a5db1e4eb0ed55b922516     
走遍（某地）搜寻（人或物）( scour的过去式和过去分词 )； （用力）刷； 擦净； 擦亮
参考例句：
  • We scoured the area for somewhere to pitch our tent. 我们四处查看，想找一个搭帐篷的地方。
  • The torrents scoured out a channel down the hill side. 急流沿着山腰冲刷出一条水沟。

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