Friday, July 24, 2015

Kepler-452b. NASA discovered “an older, larger cousin of the Earth”. “Today, our planet is a little less lonely” – Gazeta.pl

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The planet was discovered by the Kepler telescope – from him also took her working name. Kepler-452b in the constellation Cygnus lies 1400 light years from us, and its diameter is larger than the diameter of the Earth by approx. 60 percent.

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Earlier managed to discover the worlds of roughly this size, but Kepler-452b also revolves around a star very similar to the Sun, as well as at a distance similar to that separating the Earth from our star.

Given the size of the planet, scientists estimate that it has a rocky constitution – like Earth. The conference, which announced the discovery, the researchers said that using the telescope has discovered 11 other new planets in the ecosphere.

cousin year on the planet lasts 385 days

What else do we know about Kepler-452b? While the planet is larger than Earth, its orbit is very close to ours. The full lap star takes her 385 days. Same star – Kepler-452 – has six billion years and is about one and a half billion years older than the sun. It is also slightly bigger and brighter than our star, but their temperatures are similar.

If we send plants …

– The discovery of this fascinating planet. Kepler-452b receives light with the same spectrum and intensity as the Earth. This means that – if at Keplerze are rocks and atmosphere – we could send in plants that grow on Earth. I survive the! – Says astronomer Dr. Daniel Brown of the University of Nottingham.

As shown in the above graphic, Ekosfera Kepler-452 has a similar range as Ekosfera in our solar system. For comparison, solar system Kepler-186 is housed in the orbit of Mercury.

Due to the fact that the planet is much older than the Earth, and yet so like her, to examine Kepler-452b will allow scientists to “see the future” of our planet. The star Kepler-452 aging, thereby increasing and it gets hotter. If there were oceans on the planet, higher temperatures lead to their evaporate. This land is waiting for approx. one billion years.

Seven other planets is in the systems of stars of “K” – relatively smaller and colder than ours. On the other hand Kepler-452b orbits the star of “G” – the same which includes the sun. Types of stars is determined by the spectrum emitted by the light.

The researchers speculate that Kepler-452b and Earth have even more in common. In their view on the planet are active volcanoes, and the light of a star is similar enough to the sun that it could grow plants from Earth – gives “The Telegraph”. It is even possible that life existed there.

– One of the most fascinating things in the Kepler-452b is that light is there a very similar intensity and spectrum, which on Earth. This means that if there is a solid surface and atmosphere, could survive on her earthly plants. You could even sunbathe – says astronomer Dr. Daniel Brown.

How does the new planet surface?

Kepler-452b is most likely a rocky surface, dense atmosphere and large amounts of water. Sorry, we are unable to determine the planet’s mass. Astronomers assume however that with such a rocky construction, must be volcanically active.

might look like the surface of Kepler-452b:

“The new buddy on the estate”

– We can treat this planet as older, bigger cousin of the Earth, which will allow us to better understand the development of Earth’s environment – said Jon Jenkins, an analyst at NASA working on data from Kepler telescope and head of the team that discovered the new planet. – Today the Earth is a little less lonely. He has a new friend on the estate – added Jenkins.

– The fact that this planet for six billion years is the ecosphere its star, is very inspiring. Such a long time will give ample opportunity to the existence of life on the planet, if you were there all the necessary elements – explained the scientist.

Kepler

Of the 12 newly discovered four planets orbiting the stars of “M” – they are much smaller and cooler than the sun. It is also the most numerous type – they are approx. 85 percent. all the stars in the Milky Way.

How do we discover new planets? Scientists measure the “pulse” of the stars

How scientists are able to discover a planet away from us hundreds of light years? Kepler telescope, which was used to find new celestial body, measuring the brightness of stars.

Every time when the planet crosses the line between the telescope and the star, the brightness decreases slightly. Presented graphically, it reminds a bit EKG – a kind of “pulse” of the star. Repeated “pulse” allows you to specify the orbit and size of the planet.

The Kepler telescope has six years looking for distant worlds of conditions similar to those prevailing on Earth. His first was the discovery of Kepler-20e, a planet orbiting a star smaller than the sun. Unfortunately, it is much closer to its star – lap it takes only six days – therefore it is very hot and there is no liquid water.

 Kepler

Kepler-22b, whose discovery was announced in December 2011, was the first planet discovered with a telescope. located in the ecosphere star similar to the sun. However, it is twice the size of Earth, which most likely does not have a solid surface.

On the other hand Kepler-186F was the first planet of similar size as Earth, located in the ecosphere. However, it orbits a small, relatively cool star. Just discovered Kepler-452b is the first planet whose characteristics are so similar to Earth.

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