Summary
KOI-4878.01 is an exoplanet candidate that orbits the G-type main-sequence star KOI-4878. It is located about 1075 light years (329 parsecs) from Earth.[1][2][3] The features of the planet are very similar to that of Earth, and if it is confirmed, it would be one of the most Earth-like planets found.[4] The orbital period of the exoplanet is around 449 Earth days. It is very likely located within the habitable zone of its parent star.[5][6]
 Artist's impression of KOI-4878.01 | |
| Discovery | |
|---|---|
| Discovery site | Kepler Space Observatory |
| Discovery date | 2015 |
| Transit | |
| Orbital characteristics | |
| 1.125 AU (168,300,000 km) | |
| 449.015±0.021 d | |
| Star | KOI-4878 |
| Physical characteristics | |
Mean radius | 1.05 R🜨 |
| Temperature | −16.5 °C (256.6 K; 2.3 °F) |
Host star edit
Its host star is a G-type main-sequence star that is slightly less massive than the Sun, although it is about 5% larger and has a temperature of about 5780 K. The star is a V magnitude 12.4 star in the constellation Draco. Despite the unknown age of the star, its low metallicity and fairly high space velocity suggest that KOI-4878 is older than the Sun.[7][8]
Exoplanet detection edit
An analysis of Kepler's data from its first to the twelve quarter revealed three possible transit events equally spaced in time. A post-analysis in the Sixteen quarter showed that the events happened within a period of 449 days, they had a duration of 12 and half hours and a transit depth of 94 ppm.[9]
Characteristics edit
Mass edit
KOI-4878.01's mass is somewhere between 1.4 - 3.0 Earth masses; likely about 1.9 Earth masses.[10][11]
Radius edit
The exoplanet has a slightly larger radius than Earth: 1.05 Earth radii.[12]
Temperature edit
It has an equilibrium temperature of 256 K (-16.5 °C; 2.3 °F), an average surface temperature of about 2.4 degrees C (4.3 degrees F) cooler than Earth, but it may have more greenhouse gases than Earth to trap heat. [13]
| Property | Based on KIC data | Based on new data |
|---|---|---|
| Period (days) | 449.015±0.021 | 449.015±0.021 |
| Semimajor Axis (AU) | 1.137 +0.053/-0.040 | 1.125 |
| Planet Radius (Earth=1) | 1.04 +0.38/-0.14 | 1.05 |
| Seff (Earth=1) | 1.05 | 0.92 |
Habitability edit
The planet's features bear a striking resemblance to those of Earth, suggesting it may serve as an analog. It completes a full orbit around its host star approximately every 449 Earth days. Based on this orbital pattern, there's strong indication that KOI-4878.01 lies within the habitable zone of the star, making it a potential candidate for supporting life.
In literature edit
KOI-4878.01 appears in Tras el cielo de Urano, a novel written by Antonio José López Serrano. The convoy from Earth - destined to conquer the exoplanet KOI-4878-01 in the constellation of the Swan - suffers a spectacular accident while orbiting the planet Uranus. Captain Íñigo Cortés, one of the survivors of the expedition, takes the reins of his ship to guide the rest of the colonists, who are not resigned to returning to Earth.[15]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ Rowe, Jason F. (2015). "Planetary candidates observed by kepler v: planet sample from q1-q12 (36 months)". The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series. 217 (1): 16. arXiv:1501.07286. Bibcode:2015ApJS..217...16R. doi:10.1088/0067-0049/217/1/16. S2CID 119204743.
- ^ "KOI-4878.01". NASA Exoplanet Archive. Retrieved 2020-09-30.
- ^ "KOI-4878.01". Simbad. Retrieved 2020-10-04.
- ^ "Open Exoplanet Catalogue - KOI-4878 b". www.openexoplanetcatalogue.com. Retrieved 2020-10-04.
- ^ "Life away from Earth" (PDF). El Faro del Saber - UNED Long-distance Learning University.
- ^ "KOI-4878.01: Kepler's Most Earth-like Planet Candidate?". Drew Ex Machina. 2019-09-05. Retrieved 2020-09-30.
- ^ "KOI-4878". exoplanetarchive.ipac.caltech.edu. Retrieved 2020-09-30.
- ^ Institute, CSIC. "Exoplanets in the Milky Way" (PDF).
- ^ "KOI-4878.01: Kepler's Most Earth-like Planet Candidate?". Drew Ex Machina. 2019-09-05. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
- ^ How the Universe Works: An Illustrated Guide to the Cosmos. Book Sales. 2017. ISBN 9780785835417.
- ^ Institute, CSIC. "Exoplanets in the Milky Way" (PDF).
- ^ "La NASA ha encontrado siete exoplanetas similares a la Tierra en los que buscar vida". El HuffPost (in Spanish). 2017-02-22. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
- ^ "KOI-4878.01". exoplanetarchive.ipac.caltech.edu. Retrieved 2020-09-30.
- ^ "KOI-4878.01: Kepler's Most Earth-like Planet Candidate?". Drew Ex Machina. 2019-09-05. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
- ^ "Tras el cielo de Urano". UNO editorial (in Spanish). Retrieved 2020-10-04.