Kepler-62e

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Kepler-62e
Exoplanet List of exoplanets
This artist's concept depicts Kepler-62e, a super-Earth-size planet in the habitable zone.jpg
Artist's conception of an Earth-size planet orbiting within the habitable zone of its parent star.
Parent star
Star Kepler-62 (KOI-701)
Constellation Lyra
Right ascension (α) 18h 52m 51.06019s
Declination (δ) +45° 20′ 59.507″
Apparent magnitude (mV) 13.654[1]
Distance ~1200 ly
(~368[2] pc)
Mass (m) 0.69 (± 0.02)[2] M☉
Radius (r) 0.64 (± 0.02)[2] R☉
Temperature (T) 4925 (± 70)[2] K
Metallicity [Fe/H] -0.37 (± 0.04)[2]
Age 7 (± 4)[2] Gyr
Physical characteristics
Mass (m) ≤36; 4.17[3][note 1] M⊕
Radius (r) 1.61 (± 0.05)[2] R⊕
Stellar flux (F⊙) 1.2 ± 0.2 ⊕
Temperature (T) 270 K (−3 °C; 26 °F)
Orbital elements
Semi-major axis (a) 0.427[2] AU
Eccentricity (e) ~0[2]
Orbital period (P) 122.3874[2] d
Inclination (i) 89.98[2]°
Discovery information
Discovery date 18 April 2013[2]
Discoverer(s) Borucki et al.
Discovery method Transit (Kepler Mission)[2]
Other detection methods Transit timing variation
Discovery site Kepler Space Observatory
Discovery status Published refereed article
Other designations
KOI-701.03; K00701.03; 2MASS J18525105+4520595 e; KOI-701 e; KIC 9002278 e; WISE J185251.03+452059.0 e
Database references
Extrasolar Planets
Encyclopaedia		 data
SIMBAD data
Exoplanet Archive data
Open Exoplanet Catalogue data

Kepler-62e (also known by its Kepler Object of Interest designation KOI-701.03) is a super-Earth exoplanet (extrasolar planet) discovered orbiting within the habitable zone of Kepler-62, the second outermost of five such planets discovered by NASA's Kepler spacecraft. Kepler-62e is located about 1,200 light-years (370 pc) from Earth in the constellation of Lyra.[4] The exoplanet was found using the transit method, in which the dimming effect that a planet causes as it crosses in front of its star is measured. Kepler-62e may be a terrestrial or water-dominated solid planet; it lies in the inner part of its host star's habitable zone[2][5]

Kepler-62e orbits its host star every 122 days and is roughly 60 percent larger (in diameter) than Earth.[6]

Confirmed exoplanet and host star

Kepler-62e is a super-Earth with a radius 1.61 times that of Earth.[2] The planet orbits a (K-type) star that is slightly smaller and cooler than the Sun, named Kepler-62, which is orbited by a total of five transiting planets, of which Kepler-62f has the longest orbital period.[2] The star would appear a slight peach color to the naked eye.[2]

Habitability

Given the planet's age (7 ± 4 billion years), stellar flux (1.2 ± 0.2 times Earth's) and radius (1.61 ± 0.05 times Earth's), a rocky (silicate-iron) composition with the addition of a possibly substantial amount of water is considered plausible.[2] A modeling study suggests it is likely that a great majority of planets in Kepler-62e's size range are completely covered by ocean.[7][8] However, given that some studies show that super-Earths above 1.6 R⊕ may have a volatile-rich composition (similar to a mini-Neptune), and Kepler-62e's radius is estimated to be 1.61 R⊕, it may be a gaseous planet with no definite surface, thus it may not be habitable.[9] If it hosts a moon, it may be habitable.

Cultural impact

On 9 May 2013, a congressional hearing by two U.S. House of Representatives subcommittees discussed "Exoplanet Discoveries: Have We Found Other Earths?," prompted by the discovery of exoplanet Kepler-62f, along with Kepler-62e and Kepler-69c. A related special issue of the journal Science, published earlier, described the discovery of the exoplanets.[10] Kepler-62f and the other Kepler-62 exoplanets are being specially targeted as part of the SETI search programs.[11]

Notable Exoplanets – Kepler Space Telescope
KeplerExoplanets-NearEarthSize-HabitableZone-20150106.png Confirmed small exoplanets in habitable zones.
(Kepler-62e, Kepler-62f, Kepler-186f, Kepler-296e, Kepler-296f, Kepler-438b, Kepler-440b, Kepler-442b)
(Kepler Space Telescope; 6 January 2015).[12]
Relative sizes of all of the habitable-zone planets discovered to date alongside Earth.jpg Comparison of the sizes of planets Kepler-69c, Kepler-62e, Kepler-62f, and the Earth.
(Exoplanets are artists' conceptions.)		 LombergA1024.jpg The Kepler Space Telescope search volume, in the context of the Milky Way Galaxy.


See also

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ http://exoplanetarchive.ipac.caltech.edu/cgi-bin/DisplayOverview/nph-DisplayOverview?objname=Kepler-62+e&type=CONFIRMED_PLANET
  4. ↑ Kepler-62e: Super-Earth and Possible Water World
  5. ↑ 3 Potentially Habitable 'Super-Earths' Explained (Infographic)
  6. ↑ Super-Earths: Two Earth-like planets that could host life discovered. Indian Express. 20 April 2013
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Leslie A. Rogers "Most 1.6 Earth-Radius Planets are not Rocky"
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

Notes

  1. ↑ Assuming the planet has the same or similar density to Earth.

External links

Coordinates: Sky map 18h 52m 51.06019s, +45° 20′ 59.507″

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