Corot-7b, previously named Corot-Exo-7b is a reported exoplanet orbiting around the star Corot-7. It was detected by the French led Corot mission in 2009. It is the smallest exoplanet to have its diameter measured, at 1.7 times that of the Earth. The mass of Corot-7b is about 5 Earth masses. Together with the observed radius, it is possible to exclude that the planet is made purely of iron, but other compositions, including a predominantly rocky one, are possible. it orbits very close to its star with an orbital period of 20 hours. the star, in the constellation monoceros, is 150 parsecs away and is slightly smaller than the Sun.
The planet has a high surface temperature, between 1000 to 1500 °C or 3600 °F. Due to the high temperature, it may be covered in lava or water vapor. The composition and density of the planet are still being examined, wih one possibility being that it is rocky like earth. It may also belong to a class of planets that are thought to be made up of water vapor and rock in almost equal amounts.
The scientists are unsure whether it is an ocean planet, a kind of planet whose existence has yet to be proven so far. In theory such planets would initially be covered partially in ice and they would later drift towards their star, with the ice melting to cover it in liquid.
