Kepler-62e, 62f and 69c: Earth-like planets that could host life discovered by NASA

Kepler-62e, 62f and 69c: Earth-like planets that could host life discovered by NASA

April 25th, 2013

NASAs Kepler Mission has found five planets orbiting a Sun-like star called Kepler-62. Four of these planets are so-called super-Earths, larger than our own planet, but smaller than even the smallest ice giant planet in our Solar System.
The Kepler-62 system has five planets:

• 62b
• 62c
• 62d
• 62e
• 62f

Kepler-62e, 62f and 69c are the super-Earth-sized planets. NASA is not terming these planets “Earth-like” exactly; but they are being described as “Super Earths” that are anywhere from 40 to 70 % larger than our planet.

• Kepler-62f is only 40% larger than Earth, making it the exo-planet closest to the size of our planet known in the habitable zone of another star. Kepler-62f is likely to have a rocky composition. There’s also the possibility of water.
• Kepler-62e orbits on the inner edge of the habitable zone and is roughly 60% larger than Earth. Could be either rocky or a water world.
• Kepler-69c is 70% larger than the size of Earth, and orbits in the habitable zone of a star similar to our sun. Astronomers are uncertain about the composition of Kepler-69c, but its orbit of 242 days around a sun-like star resembles that of our neighboring planet Venus. Described as potentially a “Super Venus,” situated on the hotter side of the habitable zone.

Scientists do not know whether life could exist on the newfound planets, but their discovery signals we are another step closer to finding a world similar to Earth around a star like our sun.