Endor (also known as 832- Ursae Minoris) is a small, reddish planet orbiting a red dwarf star in the constellation of Ursa Minor. It was discovered in 2003 by a team of astronomers led by Dr. Michael E. Brown of the California Institute of Technology.
Endor is thought to be an telluric planet, meaning it is composed of rock and metal, with a diameter of approximately 3,000 kilometers. It has a mass slightly less than that of Earth’s moon and is thus classified as a “super-Earth” type planet. Its density suggests that it has a rocky surface with an iron core. Based on its brightness and temperature, Endor likely has an atmosphere consisting of hydrogen and helium gas.
Endor’s orbit around its red dwarf star is very close, taking only 2.7 days to complete one revolution. This proximity means that the planet experiences strong tidal forces which heat its interior, making it uninhabitable for life as we know it. However, some astronomers have theorized that if conditions are right, primitive life could exist in Endor’s oceans under the ice crusts which might form on the planet’s surface due to the extreme cold temperatures (-173 degrees Celsius).
Further study of Endor and other exoplanets like it will help us to better understand the formation and evolution of planetary systems and could provide clues about the potential for life beyond our own Solar System