NASA Finds Smallest Planet Outside Our Solar System

But Kepler-10b is too hot for human habitation

By Kevin Spak, Newser Staff

Posted Jan 11, 2011 1:42 PM CST

(Newser) – The Kepler space telescope has discovered a rocky planet that’s just 1.4 times the size of Earth orbiting a distant star—making it the smallest planet NASA has ever discovered outside of our solar system, and the only rocky one, NASA announced today. The bad news: The planet, dubbed Kepler-10b, appears far too hot to support any kind of life.

The planet is 20 times closer to its star than Mercury is to ours. That puts its expected daytime temperature at more than 2,500 degrees Farenheit, hotter than flowing lava. But NASA was pleased anyway. “The discovery of Kepler-10b, a bona fide rocky world, is a significant milestone in the search for planets similar to our own,” says the program’s scientist. “Although this planet is not in the habitable zone, the exciting find showcases the kinds of discoveries made possible by” the Kepler mission.

An artist's concept drawing of Kepler-10b. (NASA)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

CLICK BELOW TO VOTE

76%

17%

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

More Newser Stories

Scientists Find 11 New Planetary Systems

Triples number of known multiplanetary star systems

(NEWSER) - The Kepler space telescope has discovered a whopping 11 new planetary systems that are home to 26 planets—thus tripling the number of stars that have more than one planet that passes in front of them and doubling the number of exoplanets confirmed by the Kepler mission. "Prior to the Kepler mission, we knew of perhaps 500 exoplanets across the whole sky," says a NASA scientist. "Now, in just two years staring at a patch of sky not much bigger than your fist, Kepler has discovered more than 60 planets and more than 2,300 planet candidates." More»

Discovery of Earth's Twin 'Within Reach'

Kepler will find habitable planet like ours: astronomer

(NEWSER) - The Kepler spacecraft prowling the far reaches of the Milky Way will soon find a habitable planet similar to earth, a leading astronomer is convinced. Recent technological advances in the observation of planets outside our own solar system have rapidly brought us closer to finding earth's "twin" planet, says Michel Mayor, the scientist who discovered the first extrasolar planet in 1995. More»

NASA Planet Hunter Finds 5 New Worlds

Glowing hot planets found, 100 possibles being analyzed

(NEWSER) - NASA's planet-hunting Kepler telescope has found its first five planets outside our solar system, and they're all hotter than molten lava.The planets are all much bigger than Earth and orbit their suns very closely. Their discovery is a dramatic demonstration that Kepler is working well, boosting the hopes of finding an Earth-like planet more suited to life within the next few years, note NASA officials. More»

Kepler Begins Search for Other 'Earths'

Spacecraft will spend next 3 years searching for planet in 'Goldilocks zone'

(NEWSER) - NASA's planet-hunting spacecraft Kepler was successfully launched from Cape Canaveral last night, Space.com reports. Kepler, the widest-field telescope ever sent into space, will spend the next three years scanning the sky for a planet in the "Goldilocks zone" where conditions are just right for liquid water to exist and for life to take hold. More»

Alien Life 'Inevitable': Astronomer

Countless Earth-like planets likely in universe

(NEWSER) - Scientists now believe there could be as many habitable planets in the cosmos as there are stars, and that makes life’s existence elsewhere “inevitable” over billions of years, says one. “It is sort of like running an experiment in your refrigerator—turn it off and something will grow in there,” Alan Boss says. The universe may be full of other life, but he says it’s highly unlikely we’ll find intelligent beings existing while we do, the Telegraph reports. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

NASA Finds Smallest Planet Outside Our Solar System

But Kepler-10b is too hot for human habitation

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

NASA • planet • exoplanet • Kepler spacecraft

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Scientists Find 11 New Planetary Systems

Triples number of known multiplanetary star systems

Discovery of Earth's Twin 'Within Reach'

Kepler will find habitable planet like ours: astronomer

NASA Planet Hunter Finds 5 New Worlds

Glowing hot planets found, 100 possibles being analyzed

Kepler Begins Search for Other 'Earths'

Spacecraft will spend next 3 years searching for planet in 'Goldilocks zone'

Alien Life 'Inevitable': Astronomer

Countless Earth-like planets likely in universe

About Us

Site

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?