Space Facts

Kepler-22b
Planet Found in Habitable Zone

Earthdate: 2011:1205

A world only 2.38 times the diameter of Earth found in the habitable zone of a sun-like star. Credit: NASA/Ames/JPL-Caltech

With the same amount of greenhouse effect as that on Earth, the surface of Kepler-22b would be slightly warmer than Earth (~7° Celsius). The density and mass of the planet are uncertain, so we have no way of knowing the surface gravity, but likely it is somewhat greater than that on Earth—enough to prove uncomfortable or even dangerous.

System Parameters:
Name: Kepler-22
Apparent Magnitude: 11.664
Distance: 600 light years (190 parsecs)

Star:
Mass: 0.970 ☉
Radius: 0.979 ☉
Fe/H: -0.29

Planet:
Discovered: 2011
Mass: 0.389 M_J (<36 M_Earth [1σ]) updated: 2011:1222
Radii: 0.212 R_J (2.38 R_Earth)
Semi-major Axis: 0.849 AU
Orbital Period: 289.8623 days
Eccentricity: ?
Inclination: 89.764 degrees
Effective Temperature: 262K (-11C) — excludes greenhouse effect

Space Facts: Kepler-22b system compared to Solar System

Comparison of the Kepler-22 system with our own inner solar system. Credit: NASA/Ames/JPL-Caltech

References:
http://news.yahoo.com/photos/handout-picture-diagram-comparing-own-solar-system-kepler-photo-003110732.html
http://www.universetoday.com/91564/kepler-confirms-first-planet-in-habitable-zone-of-sun-like-star/#more-91564
http://kepler.nasa.gov/Mission/discoveries/

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Space Facts

Kepler-22bPlanet Found in Habitable Zone

Earthdate: 2011:1205

3D, scrollable, zoomable map of the Solar neighborhood

Kepler-22b
Planet Found in Habitable Zone