Kepler-11 and itssix known planetsrepresent one of the most extraordinary terrestrial systems we have discovered . A new analysis challenges the possibility these planets were unknown hybrids between rocky objects like the Earth and gasoline giants , alternatively , putting them firmly in the Earth - similar class , but also indicate astonishingly closely bunched planet can orbit stars like to the Sun .
Even among thehost of planetsdiscovered by the Kepler Space Telescope , the Kepler-11 system brook out . All the satellite we have name around this wiz are far too hot to support life , but the presence of six satellite orbiting so faithful to their star dispute our ideas about world-wide geological formation . Astronomers continue to consider whether so many planetscan survivein the long full term so near together .
A novel analysis concludes Kepler-11 is almost identical to what the Sun was like a billion year ago , imply that strange systems are not confine to freakish stars . rather , adept just like the Sun can host planetary system that appear nothing at all like our own .
As with all Kepler ’s discoveries , the planet of Kepler-11 were detected through dips in the light amount from the parental star , thanks to the good fortune that their orbits cause them to drop dead in front of it , as seen from Earth . Five of these planets orbit closer to their star than Mercury does to the Sun , and the last one is not much further out .
If Kepler-11 was a faint red midget , worlds at this distance might support body of water , or even life . Instead , it is fractionally brighter than the Sun , bake any objects at such close space . The interest lie in what the existence of so many planets , packed so tightly together , can separate us about the way planets form , and what other system might exist elsewhere .
University of Chicago graduate studentMegan Bedellhas investigate Kepler-11 . Her paper rejecting the previous categorization as an old , low - density star is available to view onarXiv.org . Bedell and her co - writer note that different method for value Kepler-11 ’s size negate each other . Although they can not excuse this discrepancy , they argue the minuscule estimate are more credible , suggesting it is a star very like the Sun in size , mass , and composition , but somewhat untested .
Besides revealing that so many planets can exist cheeseparing to Sun - comparable headliner , Bedell ’s work , if confirm , would resolve a puzzling feature of Kepler-11 ’s planets . The sizes of planet Kepler finds are forecast free-base on the portion of the star they block out .
Original estimates suggest Kepler-11 ’s planets had some of the lowest densities of planets too small to be gas giants . Bedell ’s estimates of Kepler-11 ’s size suggest its planets are 8 percentage heavier , but with 5 percent lowly radii , than originally remember , bringing their compactness much nigher to those of conversant rocky planet .
If Bedell is correct , the galaxy might not have incomprehensible “ puffy ” planets , but could contain enough more deterrent example of Sun - like stars companion by planet closer to each other than we previously cogitate possible .
