The results of a new analysis of Kepler data show that one in
six stars has an Earth-sized planet in a tight orbit. About a fourth of
all stars in the Milky Way have a super-Earth, and the same fraction
have a mini-Neptune. Only about 3 percent of stars have a large Neptune,
and only 5 percent a gas giant at the orbital distances studied.
Credit: F. Fressin (CfA)
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This artist's illustration represents the variety of planets being detected by NASA's Kepler spacecraft. A new analysis has determined the frequencies of planets of all sizes, from Earths up to gas giants. Key findings include the fact that one in six stars hosts an Earth-sized planet in an orbit of 85 days or less, and that almost all sun-like stars have a planetary system of some sort. (Hat tip to Robert Hurt for inspiring this illustration.) Credit: C. Pulliam & D. Aguilar (CfA)
This artist's illustration represents the variety of planets being detected by NASA's Kepler spacecraft. A new analysis has determined the frequencies of planets of all sizes, from Earths up to gas giants. Key findings include the fact that one in six stars hosts an Earth-sized planet in an orbit of 85 days or less, and that almost all sun-like stars have a planetary system of some sort. (Hat tip to Robert Hurt for inspiring this illustration.) Credit: C. Pulliam & D. Aguilar (CfA)
The quest to
determine if planets like Earth are rare or common is taking another
stride forward on the journey. Using NASA's Kepler spacecraft, managed
by NASA Ames Research Center, astronomers are beginning to find
Earth-sized planets orbiting distant stars. A new analysis of Kepler
data shows that about 17 percent of stars have an Earth-sized planet in
an orbit closer than Mercury. Since the Milky Way has about 100 billion
stars, there are at least 17 billion Earth-sized worlds out there.
Francois Fressin, of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA), presented the analysis today in a press conference at a meeting of the American Astronomical Society in Long Beach, Calif. A paper detailing the research has been accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal.
The research team found that 50 percent of all stars have a planet of Earth-size or larger in a close orbit. By adding larger planets detected in wider orbits up to the orbital distance of the Earth, this number increases to 70 percent.
Extrapolating from Kepler's currently ongoing observations and results from other detection techniques, scientists have determined that nearly all sun-like stars have planets.
Planets closer to their stars are easier to find because they transit more frequently. As more data are gathered, planets in larger orbits will be detected. In particular, Kepler's extended mission will enable the detection of Earth-sized planets at greater distances, including Earth-like orbits in the "habitable zone," the region in a planetary system where liquid water might exist on the surface of an orbiting planet.
Kepler is the first NASA mission capable of finding Earth-size planets orbiting in or near the habitable zone of the host star. NASA's Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif., is the home organization of the science principal investigator, and is responsible for the ground system development, mission operations, and science data analysis.
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., managed Kepler mission development. Ball Aerospace and Technologies Corp. in Boulder, Colo., developed the Kepler flight system and supports mission operations with JPL at the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics at the University of Colorado in Boulder.
The Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore archives, hosts and distributes the Kepler science data. Kepler is NASA's 10th Discovery Mission and is funded by NASA's Science Mission Directorate at the agency's headquarters.
To read more about the discovery, see the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics press release.
Read more about the Kepler Mission.
Francois Fressin, of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA), presented the analysis today in a press conference at a meeting of the American Astronomical Society in Long Beach, Calif. A paper detailing the research has been accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal.
The research team found that 50 percent of all stars have a planet of Earth-size or larger in a close orbit. By adding larger planets detected in wider orbits up to the orbital distance of the Earth, this number increases to 70 percent.
Extrapolating from Kepler's currently ongoing observations and results from other detection techniques, scientists have determined that nearly all sun-like stars have planets.
Planets closer to their stars are easier to find because they transit more frequently. As more data are gathered, planets in larger orbits will be detected. In particular, Kepler's extended mission will enable the detection of Earth-sized planets at greater distances, including Earth-like orbits in the "habitable zone," the region in a planetary system where liquid water might exist on the surface of an orbiting planet.
Kepler is the first NASA mission capable of finding Earth-size planets orbiting in or near the habitable zone of the host star. NASA's Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif., is the home organization of the science principal investigator, and is responsible for the ground system development, mission operations, and science data analysis.
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., managed Kepler mission development. Ball Aerospace and Technologies Corp. in Boulder, Colo., developed the Kepler flight system and supports mission operations with JPL at the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics at the University of Colorado in Boulder.
The Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore archives, hosts and distributes the Kepler science data. Kepler is NASA's 10th Discovery Mission and is funded by NASA's Science Mission Directorate at the agency's headquarters.
To read more about the discovery, see the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics press release.
Read more about the Kepler Mission.
Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif.
650-604-6982
michele.johnson@nasa.gov
NASA
Guillermo Gonzalo Sánchez Achutegui
ayabaca@gmail.com
ayabaca@hotmail.com
ayabaca@yahoo.com
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NASA halla planeta que posee condiciones similares a la Tierra.-
ResponderEliminarEl astro fue calificado como ´Supertierra´ y se encuentra dentro de la Vía Láctea.
La NASA de los Estados Unidos halló un planeta que cuenta con condiciones similares a la Tierra. El astro fue calificado como ‘Supertierra’ y se encuentra dentro de la Vía Láctea.
Se trata del planeta KOI 172.02 que posee un tamaño 1.5 mayor al Tercer Planeta y demora un total de 242 días terrestres en completar su órbitra.
Se ubica a una distancia equivalente a las tres cuartas partes de la distancia terreársete al sol, respecto a la estrella alrededor de la cual orbita.
El planeta fue encontrado por el telescopio espacial Kepler, que orbita alrededor del Sol buscando estrellas y planetas similares al nuestro.
Los científicos creen que este planeta presente agua en su superficie.
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