Kepler-22

Kepler-22
Observation data
Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation Cygnus[1]
Right ascension 19h 16m 52.2s
Declination +47° 53′ 4.2″
Apparent magnitude (V) 11.664[2]
Characteristics
Spectral type G5[3]
Astrometry
Distance 590 light-years (180 pc)[3] ly
Details
Mass 0.970 ± 0.060[2] M☉
Radius 0.979 ± 0.020[2] R☉
Luminosity 0.79 ± 0.04[2] L☉
Temperature 5518 ± 44[2] K
Metallicity [Fe/H] –0.29 ± 0.06[2] dex
Rotational velocity (v sin i) 0.6 ± 1.0[2] km/s
Other designations
KOI-087,[4] KIC-10593626, 2MASS J19165219+4753040[5]

Kepler-22 is a G-type star, approximately 600 light years from Earth, that is orbited by a planet found to be unequivocally within the star's habitable zone. Kepler-22 is slightly smaller and cooler than the Sun,[6] with a lower abundance of elements having more mass than helium.[2] It is located in the constellation Cygnus at the celestial coordinates: Right Ascension 19h 16m 52.2s, Declination +47° 53′ 4.2″.[4]

Discovery of planet in Earthlike habitable zone

On December 5, 2011, the scientific community announced that a possible Earthlike world (Kepler-22b) had been discovered orbiting in the star's habitable zone by NASA's Kepler spacecraft.[7] This was significant in that it was the first relatively Earth-sized extrasolar planet (about twice as big)[8] confirmed to be orbiting within a star's habitable zone.[9]

References

  1. ^ "Cygnus – constellation boundary", The Constellations, International Astronomical Union, http://www.iau.org/public/constellations/#cyg, retrieved 2011-12-15 
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Kepler-22b, NASA Ames Research Center, http://kepler.nasa.gov/Mission/discoveries/kepler22b/, retrieved 2011-12-06 
  3. ^ a b Schneider, Jean, "Star: Kepler-22", Extrasolar Planets Encyclopaedia (Paris Observatory), http://exoplanet.eu/star.php?st=Kepler-22, retrieved 2011-12-06 
  4. ^ a b "Kepler Discoveries". 2011-12-05. http://kepler.nasa.gov/Mission/discoveries/. 
  5. ^ "GSC 03546-02301 -- Star", SIMBAD (Centre de Données astronomiques de Strasbourg), http://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/simbad/sim-id?Ident=%406293726&Name=GSC%2003546-02301, retrieved 2011-12-08 
  6. ^ "Kepler Confirms First Planet in Habitable Zone of Sun-Like Star". Universe Today. 2011-12-05. http://www.universetoday.com/91564/kepler-confirms-first-planet-in-habitable-zone-of-sun-like-star/#more-91564. 
  7. ^ Boyle, Rebecca (December 5, 2011). "Kepler Team Confirms First Earth-like planet in a habitable zone, And Finds 1,094 More Worlds". Popular Science. http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2011-12/kepler-team-confirms-first-earth-planet-habitable-zone-and-finds-1010-more-worlds. Retrieved December 5, 2011. 
  8. ^ Singhal, Nishant Kumar. "DIGG Kepler Team Confirms First Earth-like Planet in a Habitable Zone, And Finds 1,094 More Worlds". Popular Science. http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2011-12/kepler-team-confirms-first-earth-planet-habitable-zone-and-finds-1094-more-worlds. Retrieved 15 December 2011. 
  9. ^ "NASA Telescope Confirms Alien Planet in Habitable Zone". Space.com. 2011-12-05. http://www.space.com/13821-nasa-kepler-alien-planets-habitable-zone.html. 

Coordinates: 19h 16m 52.2s, +47° 53′ 4.2″

Stars of Cygnus
Bayer
Flamsteed
Nearby
Other