Kepler Discovers System with Three Planets Smaller than Earth

Jan 11, 2012 - Astronomers using data from NASA's Kepler mission have discovered the cutest planet system yet: three planets, the smallest yet found, orbiting a red dwarf, the system being comparable to the size of the Jupiter-moon system. The planets orbit a single star, called KOI-961, and are 0.78, 0.73 and 0.57 times the radius of Earth. The smallest is about the size of Mars. This is a remarkable demonstration of the exquisite planet-finding capability of the Kepler instrument. This is my own compilation. Michael500ca.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• kepler
• ames
• research
• center
• centre
• space
• earth
• size
• planet
• planets
• solar
• system
• KOI
• 961
• KOI-961
• exoplanets
• alien
• world
• nasa
• telescope

[NicolSD]

Keep this stuff coming. I love it.

[Michael500ca]

@NicolSD Thanks. It is the first time I worked with the titles. There weren't really any other videos about this so I decided to make one. Major news as far as I'm concerned.

[NicolSD]

@Michael500ca I find it fascinating that we can spot planets this far away and can even tell how big they are. I kind of understand the science behind it. But it's still damn impressive. 

[Michael500ca]

@NicolSD The Kepler telescope is very impressive. To scan over 100,000 systems and pick out such small planets. This is way beyond what was expected. That is 3 major discoveries in the past month. Now we are finding Mars sized worlds. That only leaves planets the size of Mercury or dwarf planet Pluto to be picked up.

[4me2cclearly]

This just got added to my favs.

Great news.

[NicolSD]

@Michael500ca I should have been more precise and said that I understand "the principle" behind the science. But it's still boggles the mind.