Kepler finds two exoplanets around same star
Posted: Fri, Aug 27, 2010, 9:17 AM ET (1317 GMT)
Scientists announced Thursday the discovery of at least two extrasolar planets transiting the same star as seen by NASA's Kepler spacecraft. The planets were detected transiting a star designated Kepler-9 over 2,000 light-years from the Earth. Two planets have masses somewhat smaller that Saturn with orbital periods of 19 and 38 days. The Kepler observations also show evidence of a third planet as small as 1.5 times the radius of the Earth with a period of just 1.6 days, but additional observations are needed to confirm its presence, scientists said. The discoveries are among the first made from data collected by Kepler, which observes over 150,000 stars looking for minute variations in brightness caused by planets transiting in front of the stars. The announcement is the second major exoplanet discovery made this week, after European astronomers reported finding at least five exoplanets orbiting one star.
Scientists announced Thursday the discovery of at least two extrasolar planets transiting the same star as seen by NASA's Kepler spacecraft. The planets were detected transiting a star designated Kepler-9 over 2,000 light-years from the Earth. Two planets have masses somewhat smaller that Saturn with orbital periods of 19 and 38 days. The Kepler observations also show evidence of a third planet as small as 1.5 times the radius of the Earth with a period of just 1.6 days, but additional observations are needed to confirm its presence, scientists said. The discoveries are among the first made from data collected by Kepler, which observes over 150,000 stars looking for minute variations in brightness caused by planets transiting in front of the stars. The announcement is the second major exoplanet discovery made this week, after European astronomers reported finding at least five exoplanets orbiting one star.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
Report outlines cost growth in canceled NASA exploration programs
Posted: Sat, Jun 27 11:14 AM ET (1514 GMT) Perseverance Mars rover finds more potential biosignatures
Posted: Sat, Jun 27 11:12 AM ET (1512 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Friday, July 3
Spectrum Battle Heats Up With Rocket Lab’s Iridium Deal
Aviation Week — 9:14 am ET (1314 GMT) Private space pilots are flying orbital missions for the US Space Force
TechCrunch — 9:14 am ET (1314 GMT) First Light, Next Steps—The Path Forged by NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter
USRA — 9:12 am ET (1312 GMT) Amazon has deployed enough satellites to launch Leo service later this year
CNBC — 9:10 am ET (1310 GMT) India’s Space Industry Hunts for Its SpaceX Moment
Bloomberg News — 9:10 am ET (1310 GMT) |
