NASA's Kepler Telescope Data Unveils a Planetary System With Seven Hot, Large Exoplanets

NASA's Kepler mission concluded in 2018 after over nine years of planet discovery, yielding a vast dataset that exoplanet scientists continue to analyze. A recent analysis of data from it has uncovered a star system named Kepler-385, comprising seven hot large planets that orbit a star slightly larger and hotter than the Sun.

All seven of its planets receive more radiant heat per unit area from their host star than any planet in the Solar System, making the planetary system unique, and they are all larger than Earth but smaller than Neptune. This discovery is part of a comprehensive Kepler catalog, which includes almost 4,400 planet candidates, including more than 700 multi-planet systems.

Kepler-385 Exoplanet System Revealed in Updated NASA Catalog

Some of Kepler-385's planets were initially confirmed in 2014, while others remained in candidate status. Nevertheless, a recent update to the exoplanet catalog, orchestrated by scientists dedicated to this field, has verified the remaining planets within this unusual system and provided fresh insights.

The updated catalog, titled "Updated Catalog of Kepler Planet Candidates: Focus on Accuracy and Orbital Periods" published in the Journal of Planetary Science, is a compilation of the most accurate inventory of Kepler's planet candidates and their associated attributes to date.

NASA's Kepler mission has significantly contributed to the discovery of most known exoplanets, and this new compilation equips astronomers with valuable insights into their characteristics. The use of improved methodologies and data refinement has led to new insights and a deeper understanding of Kepler-385.

Unlike previous Kepler mission catalogs focused on assessing planetary prevalence around distant stars, this study prioritized creating an all-encompassing inventory of individual systems, leading to significant findings like Kepler-385.

The updated catalog features more accurate measurements of stellar properties and provides a better representation of orbital paths, revealing a trend where stars hosting multiple transiting planets tend to have more circular orbits.

Although the original Kepler mission concluded its observations in 2013, followed by the extended K2 mission until 2018, the data collected continues to enhance our understanding of our galaxy and the diverse exoplanets it contains.

Kepler-385 and Its Seven Planets

Kepler-385 is a star that closely resembles the Sun but is slightly larger and hotter, around 10% larger and 5% hotter. It's notable for being one of the few stars in the known exoplanetary systems with more than six planets or planet candidates orbiting around it. Among its seven planets, the two closest to the star are slightly larger than Earth and likely rocky, possibly with thin atmospheres.

The remaining five planets are considerably larger than Earth and are expected to have thicker atmospheres. These findings come from a revised Kepler Exoplanet catalog, which is the first comprehensive analysis of exoplanet properties.

The new analysis has confirmed the presence of seven planets within the system, all falling between the size range of Earth and Neptune. All seven planets in Kepler-385 are unique in that they are hotter than any celestial body within the Solar System, marking a significant discovery in the realm of multi-planetary systems.

This research primarily emphasizes the enhanced precision and accuracy of the new Kepler catalog. Despite the Kepler telescope having concluded its data collection more than a decade ago, its catalog remains the largest and most consistent source of exoplanetary information, offering the potential for fresh insights into these planets and the broader exoplanetary domain.

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