Astronomers find 'diamond planet'
By Agence France-Presse in Washington | China Daily | Updated: 2012-10-13 08:14
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An illustration showing the planet 55 Cancri e, an extremely hot planet with a surface of mostly graphite surrounding a thick layer of diamond, below which is a layer of silicon-based minerals and a molten iron core at the center. Yale University Handout |
Twinkling stars are not the only diamonds in the sky. Scientists on Thursday reported the existence of a "diamond planet" twice the size of Earth, and eight times its mass, zooming around a nearby star.
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