Skip to content

Kepler-78b: Earth-Sized Planet Discovered

Kepler-78b, which is slightly larger than Earth, is the most similar in size to the Earth of any exoplanet yet directly discovered. However, the similarities end there. 

Kepler-78b, which is slightly larger than Earth, is the most similar in size to the Earth of any exoplanet yet directly discovered. However, the similarities end there. 


Kepler-78b circles a Sun-like star at an extremely close orbit – about 40 times closer, in fact, than planet Mercury. That means that, Kepler-78b, according to planet modeling predictions, should not exist. It certainly cannot support life. It is so hot on Kepler-78b that even rock is liquid. Eventually the planet is doomed. It will eventually decay and merge with its parent star.

Illustration Credit: David A. Aguilar (CfA


Related

Up Next
I believe imagination was a God-given tool says, Rainn Wilson in the XPRIZE Insights video below. Wilson sees arts education, therefore, as an empowering tool, which “helps define a person for who they are in their integral self.”