Title: NASA’s Kepler Mission Discovers Unique Planetary System with Seven Hot Super-Earths
In a groundbreaking new finding, NASA’s Kepler telescope has unveiled the existence of a fascinating planetary system, Kepler-385, comprising seven hot, large planets orbiting a star slightly larger and hotter than our Sun. This discovery opens up a new realm of possibilities for astronomers to deepen their understanding of exoplanets, planets that exist beyond our solar system.
What sets Kepler-385 apart from other known systems is the amount of radiant heat each of its planets receives from its host star. Surprisingly, all seven planets in the Kepler-385 system experience higher levels of radiant heat per area compared to any planet within our solar system. Although larger than Earth, each planet is smaller than Neptune, making this system truly unique among our cosmic neighbors.
This unprecedented discovery is just one of the many findings compiled in NASA’s new planetary catalog, which consists of almost 4,400 planet candidates. Within this extensive catalog are over 700 multi-planet systems, including Kepler-385. Astronomers now have access to accurate information about each system, allowing them to unravel more about the characteristics of these exoplanets.
Kepler-385’s celestial setup boasts a Sun-like star that shines 10% larger and 5% hotter than our Sun. The system showcases two inner planets that are slightly larger than Earth. These planets are believed to be rocky in nature and possess thin atmospheres. In contrast, the remaining five planets are larger in size with thick atmospheres.
This remarkable revelation has been made possible through advanced data analysis techniques implemented during the extensive Kepler mission. This allows for detailed descriptions of exoplanetary systems, such as Kepler-385, which facilitates astronomers in their quest to comprehend the remarkable diversity of planets found beyond our solar system.
It is worth noting that while Kepler’s primary observations concluded back in 2013, its extended mission, known as K2, continued until 2018, yielding remarkable new discoveries about our galaxy. K2 has shed light on a myriad of exoplanets, contributing to our growing knowledge of the multitude of worlds that exist beyond the boundaries of our own solar system.
The findings of this study have been meticulously compiled in a research article, slated to be published in The Journal of Planetary Science. This article promises to provide a comprehensive overview of the remarkable Kepler-385 system, offering scientists a more detailed picture of exoplanetary systems overall and bringing us one step closer to unraveling the mysteries of the universe.
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