Kepler-135: A Super Earth in the Search for Habitable Planets
Kepler-135, an intriguing exoplanet located approximately 2,028 light-years from Earth, has sparked significant interest within the astronomical community since its discovery. This planet, designated as Kepler-135 c, is classified as a Super Earth, a category of exoplanets that are larger than Earth but smaller than Uranus and Neptune. Super Earths are often of particular interest to scientists because of their potential to support life and their valuable contributions to our understanding of planet formation and evolution.
In this article, we will delve into the characteristics of Kepler-135 c, its discovery, and the insights it provides into the nature of planets beyond our solar system.
Discovery of Kepler-135
Kepler-135 was discovered in 2014 by NASA’s Kepler Space Telescope, a mission designed to identify Earth-like planets in the habitable zone of other stars. The discovery of Kepler-135 c was made using the transit method, a technique where the telescope observes the dimming of a star’s light as a planet passes in front of it. This allows scientists to detect the size of the planet, its orbital period, and other vital characteristics.
The discovery of Kepler-135 c was significant for several reasons. Not only did it confirm the existence of another Super Earth, but it also provided crucial data regarding the nature of planets that fall into this category. With a mass 1.65 times that of Earth and a radius 1.16 times larger, Kepler-135 c provides insight into the potential diversity of exoplanets that exist in distant star systems.
Physical Characteristics of Kepler-135 c
Mass and Radius
Kepler-135 c is a Super Earth with a mass multiplier of 1.65 compared to Earth, indicating that the planet has a mass 1.65 times that of our home planet. This places Kepler-135 c firmly in the Super Earth category, which refers to planets with masses that range from 1.5 to 10 times that of Earth. However, this planet is not as massive as gas giants like Neptune or Uranus, making it more similar to Earth in terms of its potential to host solid surfaces or atmospheres conducive to life.
In addition to its mass, Kepler-135 c also has a radius multiplier of 1.16 compared to Earth. This suggests that while it is larger than Earth, its size is still within a range that allows scientists to draw comparisons between it and terrestrial planets. Its larger size could also indicate a stronger gravitational pull, which might influence its atmospheric composition and potential for retaining liquid water on its surface, a key ingredient for life as we know it.
Orbital Characteristics
One of the most interesting aspects of Kepler-135 c is its orbital parameters. The planet orbits its star at an orbital radius of just 0.103 astronomical units (AU), which is very close to its parent star. For context, Earth orbits the Sun at an average distance of 1 AU. This close proximity means that Kepler-135 c completes one orbit around its star in just 0.0312 Earth years, or approximately 11.4 days. This short orbital period places the planet in the category of “hot Jupiters” or “hot Super Earths,” which typically have high surface temperatures due to their proximity to their parent stars.
Despite the planet’s close orbit, Kepler-135 c has an eccentricity of 0.0, which means that its orbit is perfectly circular. A circular orbit suggests that the planet maintains a stable distance from its star throughout its orbit, which could have significant implications for its climate and potential habitability.
Stellar Properties of Kepler-135
Kepler-135 c orbits a star that is relatively faint, with a stellar magnitude of 12.794. Stellar magnitude is a measure of the brightness of a star, with lower numbers indicating brighter stars. A stellar magnitude of 12.794 places the parent star of Kepler-135 c outside the range of naked-eye visibility. This means that, from Earth, the star would appear as a distant, dim point of light.
The star is also a key component in determining the planet’s characteristics. Given the planet’s proximity to its star, it is likely subjected to high levels of radiation and heat, making its surface conditions significantly different from those on Earth. Understanding the nature of Kepler-135 c’s star is crucial for estimating the planet’s atmosphere, temperature, and potential for life.
Kepler-135 c’s Potential for Habitability
Given the characteristics of Kepler-135 c, many researchers have speculated about the planet’s potential to support life. However, several factors need to be considered when determining whether a planet can be considered habitable.
Temperature and Atmosphere
The planet’s close orbit around its star means that it is exposed to much higher temperatures than Earth. While it is unlikely to possess Earth-like conditions due to the extreme heat it experiences, there could be the possibility of a thick atmosphere capable of trapping heat, similar to the greenhouse effect on Venus. However, the absence of significant orbital eccentricity, coupled with the planet’s stable circular orbit, means that temperature fluctuations on Kepler-135 c could be less extreme than those seen on planets with elliptical orbits.
Whether Kepler-135 c could retain an atmosphere capable of supporting life depends on many factors, including its mass, radiation environment, and potential volcanic activity. Given the planet’s size, it is possible that it could retain a thick atmosphere, which may have been essential for creating a greenhouse effect to support liquid water on its surface.
Water and Liquid States
Water is one of the key requirements for life as we know it, and its presence on Kepler-135 c remains a topic of interest. While the high temperatures expected on the planet may prevent liquid water from existing on its surface, it is possible that subsurface water could exist beneath a thick, protective atmosphere. Additionally, if the planet has significant volcanic activity, this could contribute to the creation of water or even maintain subsurface oceans, much like the icy moons of Jupiter and Saturn.
Conclusion
Kepler-135 c, a Super Earth located over 2,000 light-years from Earth, provides a fascinating glimpse into the diversity of planets that exist in distant star systems. With its mass and size greater than Earth’s, as well as its close orbit around a faint star, Kepler-135 c presents both challenges and opportunities for understanding the potential for life on exoplanets.
While the extreme conditions on the planet make it an unlikely candidate for life as we know it, it remains an important object of study for astronomers and astrobiologists. By studying planets like Kepler-135 c, we continue to learn more about the wide range of environments in the universe and the conditions that might make some of these distant worlds habitable in the future. As research on exoplanets advances, Kepler-135 c may play a critical role in refining our understanding of what makes a planet suitable for life.