Kepler-1649c

Kepler-1649c is an exoplanet orbiting the M-type main sequence red dwarf star Kepler-1649, about 300 light-years from Earth, in the constellation of Cygnus.[3] In 2020, Jeff Coughlin, the director of SETI's K2 Science Office, described it as the most "similar planet to Earth" found so far by the Kepler Space Telescope.[4] The planet was originally deemed a false positive by Kepler's robovetter algorithm. The Kepler False Positive Working Group published its recovery on April 15, 2020.[5][6] Its first scientific description was published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, with first author Andrew Vanderburg, in April 2020.[5][7]

Kepler-1649c
Size comparison of Earth and Kepler-1649c (artist's impression)
Discovery
Discovered byKepler spacecraft
Discovery date15 April 2020
Transit
Orbital characteristics
0.0649[1] AU
19.5352551±0.0001018[1] d
Inclination89.65
StarKepler-1649
Physical characteristics
Mean radius
1.06+0.15
−0.10 R⊕
Mass1.2[2] M⊕
Temperature234 ± 20 (est.) K

    Characteristics

    Mass and orbit
    Artist's impression of the Kepler-1649 system
    Artist's impression of the surface of Kepler-1649c with host star and Kepler-1649b in the sky

    The exoplanet was identified as a rocky planet by NASA[8] and is very similar to Earth in terms of size, with a radius 1.06 times that of Earth.[5][9] Kepler-1649c takes only 19.5 Earth days to orbit its host star Kepler-1649, an M-Type red dwarf.[10] It orbits within the habitable zone of its star system.

    Climate

    Very little is known of Kepler-1649c's climate.[5] It receives fully 75% of the light from its host star that Earth receives from the Sun; therefore, depending on the atmosphere, its surface temperature may be similar enough to the temperature of the Earth that liquid water may be present.[4] It is unclear what the composition of Kepler-1649c's atmosphere is.[8]

    The orbital evolution models shows the significant oscillations of eccentricity under influence of the gravity of the Kepler1649b are likely, but the climate would remain Earth-like for most initial parameters.[11]

    Host star

    Kepler-1649 is a type-M red dwarf star estimated to be roughly ¼ the radius of our Sun.[10] with only two confirmed planets in its orbit, the other being Kepler-1649b.[12] Kepler-1649b is similar to Venus from our own solar system in two ways. First, Kepler-1649b and Venus both have orbits roughly half the radius of the next known planets (Kepler-1649c and Earth respectively). Second, both of them are of similar size.[8]

    Habitability

    While the exoplanet does orbit within its star's habitable zone, due to the lack of information on the exoplanet's atmosphere, it is unclear if Kepler-1649c can sustain liquid water on its surface. As of 2021, no solar flare-ups have yet been observed from the host star; nonetheless, scientists believe that such stars are prone to frequent solar flare activity, and that such flares may have stripped the exoplanet's atmosphere and hindered the prospect of life.[3][8]

    See also

    References
    1. "NASA Exoplanet Archive – Planet Candidate Overview – Kepler-1649c". Retrieved 27 April 2020.
    2. "ExoplanetKyoto - Kepler 1649c". www.exoplanetkyoto.com. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
    3. April 2020, Mike Wall 15. "Newfound alien planet may be most Earth-like yet". Space.com. Retrieved 2020-04-16.
    4. Georgiou, Aristos (16 April 2020). "Potentially habitable exoplanet that is Earth-like in size and temperature was discovered 300 light-years away". Newsweek. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
    5. Vanderburg, Andrew; Rowden, Pamela; Bryson, Steve; Coughlin, Jeffrey; Batalha, Natalie; Collins, Karen A.; Latham, David W.; Mullally, Susan E.; Colón, Knicole D.; Henze, Chris; Huang, Chelsea X. (2020-04-15). "A Habitable-zone Earth-sized Planet Rescued from False Positive Status". The Astrophysical Journal. 893 (1): L27. arXiv:2004.06725. Bibcode:2020arXiv200406725V. doi:10.3847/2041-8213/ab84e5. ISSN 2041-8213.
    6. Strickland, Ashley (15 April 2020). "New potentially habitable exoplanet is similar in size and temperature to Earth". CNN. Retrieved 17 April 2020. The study published Wednesday in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.
    7. "Texas-Led Team Finds Earth-Sized, Habitable Zone Planet Hidden in Early NASA Kepler Data". University of Texas at Austin. Retrieved 2020-05-18.
    8. "Earth-Size, Habitable Zone Planet Found Hidden in Early NASA Kepler Data". Exoplanet Exploration: Planets Beyond our Solar System. Retrieved 2020-04-16.
    9. Carter, Jamie. "Long-Dead Telescope Detects 'Most Similar Planet To Earth Ever Found' In A Star's 'Habitable Zone'". Forbes. Retrieved 2020-04-16.
    10. McDonald, Rebecca (April 15, 2020). "Dedicated Team of Scientists Discover Habitable-Zone Earth-Size Planet in Kepler Data". Seti Institute. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
    11. Eccentricity Driven Climate Effects in the Kepler-1649 System, 2020, arXiv:2011.09074
    12. "Exoplanet-catalog". Exoplanet Exploration: Planets Beyond our Solar System. Retrieved 2020-04-16.

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