Title: NASA’s Kepler Telescope Discovers Seven Hot Planets in Kepler-385 System
The NASA Kepler telescope has made an astounding discovery, unveiling a new planetary system labeled as Kepler-385. This system contains seven mammoth planets that orbit around a star slightly larger and hotter than our Sun.
What makes the Kepler-385 system even more intriguing is that each of these planets receives a significant amount of radiant heat from their host star, surpassing the amount received by any planet in our own solar system. Despite being larger than Earth, these planets are smaller than Neptune and boast the title of being the sole planets known within the system.
This remarkable system is amongst the very few known with more than six confirmed planets or planet candidates. The recent release of the Kepler catalog now contains approximately 4,400 planet candidates, including over 700 multiple-planet systems. With these extensive data sets, astronomers can delve deeper into the characteristics of exoplanets, expanding their knowledge of celestial bodies beyond our solar system.
The star within the Kepler-385 system is remarkably comparable to our own Sun, measuring 10% larger and 5% hotter. The first two planets closest to the star are slightly larger than Earth and are believed to possess thin atmospheres. Contrarily, the other five planets are larger than Earth and are anticipated to have thick atmospheres.
What sets this catalog apart is the meticulous measurement of stellar properties and the precise calculation of each planet’s path across its host star. The updated catalog will be published in an upcoming edition of The Journal of Planetary Science, highlighting the latest findings from the Kepler mission.
Although Kepler’s primary observations concluded in 2013, its extended mission, known as K2, persisted until 2018, yielding new revelations about our galaxy and its myriad of planets. This comprehensive study offers a more detailed understanding of the planets within the Kepler-385 system and their home systems, expanding our knowledge of the worlds beyond our solar system.
The Kepler telescope’s discovery ignites excitement amongst scientists and space enthusiasts, as it fuels their drive to uncover more information about exoplanets and the potential for life beyond our little corner of the universe.
“Travel aficionado. Incurable bacon specialist. Tv evangelist. Wannabe internet enthusiast. Typical creator.”