Abstract
A planetary system has been found in a startlingly tight orbit around an evolved star. The finding challenges the idea that close-in planets are destroyed as their host star evolves. See Letter p.496 Two small planets of nearly Earth size have been discovered orbiting the evolved post-red-giant star KIC 05807616. They have the shortest orbital periods so far reported, at about 5.8 and 8.2 hours, and are only 0.006 and 0.0076 astronomical units (AU) away from their parent star. Planets orbiting within 1 AU of a parent star are expected to be engulfed when the star becomes a red giant, so these bodies have probably survived immersion in the former red giant envelope.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
