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NASA's Kepler Data Reveals Seven-Planet System with Earths Orbiting a Sun-Like Star

Kepler-385 system discovered in Kepler's old data comprises two rocky planets possibly with thin atmospheres and five larger planets, all receiving more heat per area from their host star than any planet in our Solar System; the new catalog facilitates deep insights into individual exoplanet systems.

Overview

  • NASA's Kepler telescope data has unveiled a new system called Kepler-385 with seven hot, large planets orbiting a star slightly larger and hotter than our Sun.
  • The Kepler-385 system comprises two rocky planets possibly with thin atmospheres and five larger planets, each twice the size of Earth's radius, all expected to be enshrouded in thick atmospheres.
  • Kepler-385 is one of only a few planetary systems known to contain more than six verified planets or planet candidates; it is a highlight of a new Kepler catalog containing almost 4,400 planet candidates, including more than 700 multi-planet systems.
  • Improved measurements of stellar properties in the new catalog reveal that when a star hosts several transiting planets, they typically have more circular orbits than when a star hosts only one or two.
  • The Kepler data, collected until 2018, continues to reveal new discoveries about our galaxy, helping us paint a more detailed picture of what individual exoplanet systems look like.