An artist’s concept depicts a planet passing in front of its parent star, Gliese 1214. The star is smaller, less massive, and much fainter than the Sun. The planet is bigger and heavier than Earth, but it’s so close to the parent star that it’s extremely hot — about 535 degrees Fahrenheit on the dayside, and 325 degrees on the nightside. [ESO/L. Calçada]
Find out more in our radio program entitled Changing Planet.