Question 1

True or false: Temperatures on GJ 1214 b likely exceed 200°C due to its proximity to its star.

Accepted Answer

True. Being so close to a red dwarf, its equilibrium temperature is estimated around 200-280°C, too hot for liquid water on the surface.

Question 2

True or false: GJ 1214 b is often called a 'water world' because it might be mostly ocean.

Accepted Answer

True. Its low density and size suggest it could be composed largely of water, with a deep global ocean under a steam atmosphere.

Question 3

True or false: This exoplanet orbits a Sun-like star at a distance similar to Earth’s.

Accepted Answer

False. GJ 1214 b orbits a red dwarf star, not a Sun-like star, and is much closer to its star than Mercury is to our Sun.

Question 4

True or false: GJ 1214 b is one of the few known exoplanets with a confirmed solid surface.

Accepted Answer

False. Its low density indicates it likely lacks a solid surface, possibly being a water world or mini-Neptune with a thick atmosphere.

Question 5

True or false: GJ 1214 b's atmosphere is obscured by a thick layer of haze or clouds.

Accepted Answer

True. Hubble and Spitzer observations show a flat transmission spectrum, indicating high-altitude aerosols like haze or clouds that block our view of the lower atmosphere.

Question 6

True or false: GJ 1214 b was discovered using the radial velocity method alone.

Accepted Answer

False. It was discovered via the transit method, where its host star dims periodically as the planet passes in front.

Question 7

True or false: GJ 1214 b is larger than Jupiter but less dense than Saturn.

Accepted Answer

False. GJ 1214 b has a radius about 2.7 times Earth's, far smaller than Jupiter (~11x Earth), and its density (~2 g/cm³) exceeds Saturn's (~0.7 g/cm³).

Question 8

True or false: GJ 1214 b has an orbital period of approximately 1.58 days.

Accepted Answer

True. This 'super-Earth' orbits very close to its host star, completing one orbit in about 1.58 days (roughly 38 hours).

GJ 1214 b Trivia Questions