Planet Kepler - 78b

Illustration of planet Kepler - 78b orbits the star in just 8.5 hours. Click image to enlarge . Image credit : David A. Aguilar (CfA )
Astronomers have found a planet that has a structure similar to Earth rocks . The planet Kepler - 78b is . Planet Kepler - 78b also has a size that is not much different from the Earth which is about 1.7 times the mass of Earth and 1.2 times the radius of Earth . The planet Kepler - 78b orbits its star very quickly which is about 8.5 hours. That makes the planet is not very feasible to support life due to extreme heat . But a lot of new things that can be taken from this planet . Kepler - 78b be the first planet confirmed to have sizes and masses similar to the Earth , from which scientists can determine the level and density of the material making up the planet . It is estimated that the majority of the material making up the Kepler - 78b is composed of stone and iron . Stars of the planet slightly smaller than our sun and is located 400 light-years from Earth in the constellation Cygnus .

Comparison of the size of the planet Kepler - 78b the Earth . Image credit : David A. Aguilar (CfA )
Kepler - 78b planet was first observed by telescope hunter planet , Kepler . Then by using Earth -based telescopes , astronomers study the orbital velocity period . The team of astronomers led by Andrew Howard of the University of Hawaii perform more intensive observation with telescopes at the Keck Observatory and another team led by Francesco Pepe of the University of Geneva Observatory observed using telescopes on La Palma in the Canary Islands .

Kepler - 78b planned study will be presented at the meeting of the Kepler Science Conference from 4-8 November at Ames , Iowa , United States . More than 400 astrophysicists from Australia , China , America , and Latin American countries will follow the conference. ( NS , Adi Saputro / www.astronomi.us )
credit:astronomi.us