Question 1

True or false: 55 Cancri e is larger than Jupiter and orbits its star at the same distance as Earth.

Accepted Answer

False. It is about 8 times Earth's mass and 2 times Earth's radius—much smaller than Jupiter—and orbits far closer than Mercury.

Question 2

True or false: 55 Cancri e is tidally locked, with one side permanently facing its star and the other in eternal night.

Accepted Answer

True. Its extremely close orbit causes tidal locking, creating a scorching dayside and a cooler, but still hot, nightside.

Question 3

True or false: 55 Cancri e may be a carbon-rich planet, possibly made of diamond and graphite.

Accepted Answer

True. Observations suggest a high carbon-to-oxygen ratio, meaning the planet could be composed largely of carbon compounds like diamond.

Question 4

True or false: 55 Cancri e is a super-Earth that orbits so close to its star that a year lasts less than 18 hours.

Accepted Answer

True. 55 Cancri e orbits its host star every 17 hours and 41 minutes, making it one of the fastest-orbiting exoplanets known.

Question 5

True or false: 55 Cancri e has a thick atmosphere rich in oxygen, similar to Earth's.

Accepted Answer

False. Its atmosphere, if any, is likely thin and composed of vaporized rock or carbon gases, not breathable oxygen.

Question 6

True or false: 55 Cancri e is part of a multi-planet system with at least four other planets.

Accepted Answer

True. The 55 Cancri system hosts at least five planets, with 55 Cancri e being the innermost.

Question 7

True or false: The surface of 55 Cancri e is covered in liquid water oceans, similar to Earth.

Accepted Answer

False. Its extreme heat—up to 2,400°C—makes liquid water impossible. The surface is likely molten lava or supercritical fluids.

Question 8

True or false: 55 Cancri e was discovered using the Hubble Space Telescope in 2004.

Accepted Answer

False. It was discovered in 2004 via radial velocity measurements from ground-based telescopes, not Hubble.

55 Cancri e Trivia Questions