Located 982 light-years from Earth; discovered in April 2013 by NASA's Kepler Space Telescope.
Designation: KOI-701.04; orbits within the habitable zone of Kepler-62.
Orbital Characteristics
Distance from star: 0.718 AU
Orbital Period: 267.3 days
Semi-major Axis: 0.72 AU
Eccentricity: 0.03
Physical Characteristics
Radius: 1.4 R⊕
Mass: 2.5 M⊕
Surface Gravity: 1.2 g
Surface Temperature: 10°C (50°F)
Equilibrium Temperature: 208 K (-65°C)
Likely rocky or ocean-covered; receives 41% of Earth’s sunlight.
Host Star (Kepler-62)
K-type star
mass: 0.69 M☉
radius: 0.64 R☉
Temperature: 4925 K
Age: 7 billion years
Habitability Potential
May have liquid water on its surface.
climate conditions depend on atmospheric CO2 levels.
Simulations suggest potential for ocean coverage and seasons.
Discovery & Future Studies
Discovered using the transit method; later confirmed by Eric Agol.
Future telescopes like James Webb may study its atmosphere and mass.
Targeted by SETI for signals indicating extraterrestrial life.
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55 Cancri e: A Super-Earth Exoplanet
General Information
Distance from Earth: ~41 light-years
55 Cancri e is a Super-Earth known for its extremely high surface temperature, which may cause its surface to be covered in molten lava.
It is tidally locked, meaning one side is perpetually exposed to its star, resulting in extreme temperature differences.
Orbital Characteristics
Orbital Period: 0.74 days
Semi-major Axis: ~0.016 AU
Physical Characteristics
Mass: ~8 Earth masses
Radius: ~2 Earth radii
Temperature: ~2,427°C (4,400°F)
Host Star
55 Cancri: A G-type star located ~41 light-years away.
Temperature: ~5,300 K
Mass: ~0.95 M☉ (solar masses)
Radius: ~0.96 R☉ (solar radii)
Age: ~8 billion years
Habitability Potential
55 Cancri e is not considered habitable due to its extreme surface temperatures and lack of a stable atmosphere.
The conditions present make it unsuitable for life as we know it.
Discovery & Future Studies
Discovered in 2004 by the Keck Observatory using radial velocity measurements.
Future studies may focus on its atmospheric properties and geological activity.
55 Cancri e serves as a significant case study for understanding Super-Earths.
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LHS 1140 b: A Dense Super-Earth
General Information
Distance from Earth: ~40 light-years
LHS 1140 b is a dense Super-Earth located in the habitable zone of a red dwarf star. Its density indicates a large iron core, and it may have retained a thick atmosphere despite the intense radiation from its star. This makes it a prime target for atmospheric studies.
Orbital Characteristics
Orbital Period: 24.7 days
Semi-major Axis: ~0.09 AU
Physical Characteristics
Mass: ~6.6 Earth masses
Radius: ~1.4 Earth radii
Temperature: ~0°C (32°F)
Host Star
LHS 1140: A red dwarf star located ~40 light-years away.
Temperature: ~3,400 K
Mass: ~0.16 M☉ (solar masses)
Radius: ~0.2 R☉ (solar radii)
Age: ~5 billion years
Habitability Potential
LHS 1140 b is considered a prime candidate for habitability studies due to its location in the habitable zone.
Its dense composition and potential atmosphere make it an intriguing target for future exploration.
Discovery & Future Studies
Discovered in 2017 using the MEarth Observatory and radial velocity measurements.
Future research may focus on its atmospheric composition and potential for hosting life.
LHS 1140 b is significant for understanding the diversity of Super-Earths.
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Gliese 581c: A Notable Super-Earth
General Information
Distance from Earth: ~20 light-years
Gliese 581c is one of the first Super-Earths discovered in the habitable zone. It has a dense atmosphere and may have liquid water, but the high gravity and potential greenhouse effect could make it uninhabitable for Earth-like life.
Orbital Characteristics
Orbital Period: 13 days
Semi-major Axis: ~0.073 AU
Physical Characteristics
Mass: ~5.6 Earth masses
Radius: ~1.5 Earth radii
Temperature: ~-3°C (27°F)
Host Star
Gliese 581: A red dwarf star located ~20 light-years away.
Temperature: ~3,200 K
Mass: ~0.31 M☉ (solar masses)
Radius: ~0.35 R☉ (solar radii)
Age: ~10 billion years
Habitability Potential
Gliese 581c is located in the habitable zone, raising interest in its potential for life.
However, its high gravity and greenhouse conditions may limit its habitability for Earth-like organisms.
Discovery & Future Studies
Discovered in 2007 using the radial velocity method by the European Southern Observatory.
Future research may focus on atmospheric studies and the planet's potential to host life.
Gliese 581c has played a key role in the search for exoplanets in habitable zones.