NASA’s Kepler mission discovers rocky planet (only 1.4 times size of Earth)

[Ian David]

Source: BNO News

WASHINGTON D.C. (BNO NEWS) -- The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) on Monday announced that its Kepler mission discovered its first rocky planet.

The planet was named Kepler-10b and it is 1.4 times the size of the Earth. It is the smallest planet ever discovered outside our solar system and is a result of more than 8 months of investigating.

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The science team determined that Kepler-10b is more than 20 times closer to its star than Mercury as it orbits once every 0.84 day. The exoplanet is not located in an habitable zone.

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"The discovery of Kepler 10-b is a significant milestone in the search for planets similar to our own," said Douglas Hudgins, Kepler program scientist. "Although this planet is not in the habitable zone, the exciting find showcases the kinds of discoveries made possible by the mission and the promise of many more to come."


Read more: http://wireupdate.com/wires/14001/nasas-kepler-mission-discovers-rocky-planet/

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The planet probably looks something like this...

[CRF450]

1. Orbits the star in less than a day??

Holy shit that ball of rock has got to be whipping around at some extreme speeds! Wonder how big the start is though...

[laconicsax]

4. Its parent star is about 90% the size of our sun.

I assumed that you mean star, not start.

[mindwalker_i]

9. If it's orbit is less than an (Earth) day

and the star is 90% the size of ours, that "rocky" planet is going to be fucking hot! I mean, really fucking hot! It would be like a world with continuous nuclear bombs going off - or a giant unshielded nuclear reactor right next to it (the star).

[laconicsax]

13. Yeah, I wonder if "rocky" should really read, "molten."

I saw something a while back that had a fun CG animation of what would happen if the Earth fell into the Sun. IIRC, it stopped being a 'rocky' planet not too long after crossing Mercury's orbit.

I think the bigger real story here is the reminder that we have the technology to reliably detect the transit of a planet that size at the distance it orbits its star.

[social_critic]

16. At 90 % of the size it emits a lot less radiation

This star could be a tiny white dwarf, this means it doesn't even have nuclear reactions taking place. The planet itself would be rocky, and could have small oceans. These oceans could have life, something like giant squid. The land could have anything from crabs to giant Sarah Palin look-alikes.

[Peace Patriot]

2. This may be Kepler's first but it is not THE first rocky planet discovered.

I recall a report of a rocky planet that IS in the "habitable zone" about a year ago. It was much bigger and I believe denser than earth (more gravity) and it did not rotate. It was very hot on one side and very cold on the other. But scientists speculated that life could exist in the transition zones between the hot and cold sides of the planet, and it was within the "sweet zone" of its sun, also indicating the ability to sustain life as we know it. And I think that this was THE first rocky, earth-like planet discovered (not a gaseous giant like Jupiter). But it could be the second (and Kepler's the third). Can't recall for sure. And I don't recall who discovered the "habitable zone," rocky planet. Anybody?

[formercia]

12. Location, location.

If you have to ask, you can't afford it.

[Po_d Mainiac]

3. The inhabitants may not like being called Keplans or Keplerites

Did anyone bother to ask their opinion?

[Blue State Bandit]

5. THE BLACK HOLE!!! Loved that flick.

Looking forward.

[Lucky Luciano]

6. Is that Cheney in that picture? Did we discover where he comes from?! nt

[Ikonoklast]

7. The tidal forces affecting that planet must be tremendous.

No oceans to have a tide, but the very rocks themselves...bulging out for miles.

[laconicsax]

15. No kidding!

[trud]

8. darn, I was hoping to move... n/t

[Ratty]

10. At last!! A reasonable headline!

None of this "earthlike planet" that may have intelligent life with saucers that are visiting us even now nonsense.

[derby378]

11. FANTASTIC news!

Thanks for sharing! :hi:

[Ellipsis]

14. That explains a few things

K&R




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