24/7 Space News
EXO WORLDS
Scorching, seven-planet system revealed by new Kepler Exoplanet list
Artist's concept of Kepler-385, the seven-planet system revealed in a new catalog of planet candidates discovered by NASA's Kepler space telescope. NASA/Daniel Rutter
Scorching, seven-planet system revealed by new Kepler Exoplanet list
by Frank Tavares for ARC News
Moffett Field CA (SPX) Nov 03, 2023

A system of seven sweltering planets has been revealed by continued study of data from NASA's retired Kepler space telescope: Each one is bathed in more radiant heat from their host star per area than any planet in our solar system. Also unlike any of our immediate neighbors, all seven planets in this system, named Kepler-385, are larger than Earth but smaller than Neptune. It is one of only a few planetary systems known to contain more than six verified planets or planet candidates. The Kepler-385 system is among the highlights of a new Kepler catalog that contains almost 4,400 planet candidates, including more than 700 multi-planet systems.

"We've assembled the most accurate list of Kepler planet candidates and their properties to date," said Jack Lissauer, a research scientist at NASA's Ames Research Center in California's Silicon Valley and lead author on the paper presenting the new catalog. "NASA's Kepler mission has discovered the majority of known exoplanets, and this new catalog will enable astronomers to learn more about their characteristics."

At the center of the Kepler-385 system is a Sun-like star about 10% larger and 5% hotter than the Sun. The two inner planets, both slightly larger than Earth, are probably rocky and may have thin atmospheres. The other five planets are larger - each with a radius about twice the size of Earth's - and expected to be enshrouded in thick atmospheres.

The ability to describe the properties of the Kepler-385 system in such detail is testament to the quality of this latest catalog of exoplanets. While the Kepler mission's final catalogs focused on producing lists optimized to measure how common planets are around other stars, this study focuses on producing a comprehensive list that provides accurate information about each of the systems, making discoveries like Kepler-385 possible.

The new catalog uses improved measurements of stellar properties and calculates more accurately the path of each transiting planet across its host star. This combination illustrates that when a star hosts several transiting planets, they typically have more circular orbits than when a star hosts only one or two.

Kepler's primary observations ceased in 2013 and were followed by the telescope's extended mission, called K2, which continued until 2018. The data Kepler collected continues to reveal new discoveries about our galaxy. After the mission already showed us there are more planets than stars, this new study paints a more detailed picture of what each of those planets and their home systems look like, giving us a better view of the many worlds beyond our solar system.

The research article, "Updated Catalog of Kepler Planet Candidates: Focus on Accuracy and Orbital Periods" is forthcoming in The Journal of Planetary Science.

Video: The seven planets in the Kepler-385 system

Research Report:Updated Catalog of Kepler Planet Candidates: Focus on Accuracy and Orbital Periods

Related Links
Kepler space telescope
Lands Beyond Beyond - extra solar planets - news and science
Life Beyond Earth

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
EXO WORLDS
Giant planets cast a deadly pall
Riverside CA (SPX) Nov 01, 2023
Giant gas planets can be agents of chaos, ensuring nothing lives on their Earth-like neighbors around other stars. New studies show, in some planetary systems, the giants tend to kick smaller planets out of orbit and wreak havoc on their climates. Jupiter, by far the biggest planet in our solar system, plays an important protective role. Its enormous gravitational field deflects comets and asteroids that might otherwise hit Earth, helping create a stable environment for life. However, giant planet ... read more

EXO WORLDS
SwRI's Dr. Alan Stern conducts space research during suborbital spaceflight aboard Virgin Galactic's VSS Unity

Workshop to highlight NASA's support for mobility, in-space servicing

Apollo astronaut Thomas K. Mattingly dies aged 87

NASA updates Commercial Crew planning manifest

EXO WORLDS
SpaceX launches 23 Starlink Internet satellites after aborted mission

Hot summer for Europe's reusable rocket engine

Marking 25 Years since Deep Space 1 kickstarted Ion propulsion

SpinLaunch announces new leadership roles

EXO WORLDS
Bewitched Battery: Sols 3994-3995

Estimating depositional timing on Mars using cosmogenic radionuclide data

Mars Climate Sounder data reveals new cloud trends, study shows

Scientists discover molten layer covering Martian core

EXO WORLDS
Chinese astronauts return to Earth after 'successful' mission

New scientific experimental samples from China's space station return to Earth

Shenzhou XVI crew return after 'very cool journey'

Chinese astronauts return to Earth with fruitful experimental results

EXO WORLDS
InSPA collaborates with multi-sector partners to fast-track space commercialization

New technologies for the future of European space

Follow NASA's Starling Swarm in Real Time

Fugro SpAARC's operations set to grow with new funding from Western Australian Govt

EXO WORLDS
NASA's InSPA Aims to Stimulate Commercial Manufacturing in Low Earth Orbit

MDA acquires SatixFy's Digital Payload Division in $60 Million deal

ESA hones 3D Printed electromagnetic coils for spaceflight

NRL ISS Mission seeks new bioinspired materials

EXO WORLDS
Scorching, seven-planet system revealed by new Kepler Exoplanet list

Giant planets cast a deadly pall

Jurassic worlds might be easier to spot than modern Earth

ET phone Dublin? Astrophysicists scan the Galaxy for signs of life

EXO WORLDS
Salts and organics observed on Ganymede's surface by June

New jet stream discovered in Jupiter's upper atmosphere

Uranus aurora discovery offers clues to habitable icy worlds

How NASA is protecting Europa Clipper from space radiation

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.