|
APOD: 2011 December 7 Kepler 22b: An Almost Earth Orbiting an Almost Sun
Explanation:
Its the closest match to Earth that has yet been found.
Recently discovered planet Kepler 22b has therefore instantly become the
best place to find life outside our Solar System.
The planet's host star,
Kepler 22, is actually slightly
smaller and cooler than the
Sun, and lies 600
light-years from Earth toward the constellation of the Swan
(Cygnus).
The planet,
Kepler 22b, is over twice the
radius of the Earth and orbits slightly closer in, but lies in the
habitable zone where liquid
water could exist on the surface.
Pictured
above is an artists depiction of how
Kepler 22b
might appear to an
approaching spaceship,
in comparison to the inner planets of our Solar System.
Whether Kepler 22b actually contains water or life is currently unknown.
A SETI project, however, will
begin monitoring Kepler 22b for signs
of intelligence.
| << Yesterday | 7.12.2011 | Tomorrow >> |
|
January February March April May June July August September October November December |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: life - extrasolar planet
Publications with words: life - extrasolar planet
See also: