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Encyclopedia of Astrobiology pp 1Cite as

Mini-Neptunes

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Definition

Mini-Neptune is the suggested term for a diverse class of exoplanets with masses in the upper range of Super-Earths (e.g., 7–10 Earth-masses, see the entry on Super-Earths). Unlike low-mass super-Earths, mini-Neptunes can have more massive and thicker atmospheres, and as a result, a small mean density. An example of a mini-Neptune could be Kepler-11f. With a radius of ~2.5 Earth-radii and mass of ~2 Earth-masses, this planet has a density of ~0.7 g/cc, similar to that of the gas-giant planet, Saturn.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Astronomy, University of Hawaii, University of Hawaii-Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii, HI, USA

    Nader Haghighipour

  2. Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA

    Lisa Kaltenegger

Authors
  1. Nader Haghighipour
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  2. Lisa Kaltenegger
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nader Haghighipour .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Biología Molecular, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain

    Ricardo Amils

  2. Labo. d'Astrophysique de Bordeaux (LAB), Observatoire Aquitain des Sciences de l'Univers (OASU), Floirac CX, France

    Muriel Gargaud

  3. Centro de Astrobiología (CAB), Inst. Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial, Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain

    José Cernicharo Quintanilla

  4. Geophysical Lab., Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington, District of Columbia, USA

    Henderson James Cleaves

  5. Astronomy Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA

    William M. Irvine

  6. Dépt. Sc. de la Terre et de l’Atmosphère, Université du Québec, Montréal, Montreal, Québec, Canada

    Daniele Pinti

  7. Centre National d'Etudes Spatiale (CNES) DPI/E2U, Paris CX, France

    Michel Viso

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© 2014 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Haghighipour, N., Kaltenegger, L. (2014). Mini-Neptunes. In: Amils, R., et al. Encyclopedia of Astrobiology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_1001-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_1001-3

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-27833-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Physics and AstronomyReference Module Physical and Materials ScienceReference Module Chemistry, Materials and Physics

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