Kepler Detects Three New Exoplanets Orbiting Super-earth: Gj 9827 B

NASA's Kepler telescope recently discovered three new extrasolar planets orbiting a star called GJ 9827 dubbed a "super-Earth". GJ 9827 is a bright star of the spectral type K6V, about 100 light-years from Earth.

Key Facts About Gj 9827 B

These three exoplanets are GJ 9827 b, c and d respectively.

3 new exoplanets revolve around star GJ 9827. (Image source: Phys).

GJ 9827 b has a radius of 1.64 times the radius of the Earth. Scientists have not yet determined its mass, but according to GJ 9827 b estimates it weighs 3.5 to 4.26 times the mass of the Earth. GJ 9827 b takes about 1.21 days to spin around the parent star and has a balanced temperature of about 845 degrees Celsius.

Why Gj 9827 B Matters

GJ 9827 c is the smallest planet in this newly discovered trio. The alien planet has an orbital cycle of 3.65 days and the equilibrium temperature is over 500°C.

GJ 9827 d is twice the size and has at least five times the mass of Earth. The outer surface of this planet has an equilibrium temperature of 374 degrees Celsius and it takes 6.2 days to orbit the star's orbit.

(Image source: Phys).

Previously, researchers believed that 1.5 times the size of the Earth was thought to be the maximum threshold, before a planet turned into a gas sphere. Therefore, detecting these three exoplanets will help them observe the changes of planets by size, on the same star system.

These are the closest planets discovered by Kepler when they pass through the host star in a way we can observe. This allows scientists to search for life on extraterrestrial planets by observing the spectrum, determining the composition, and thereby determining what is behind the atmosphere.

According to scientists, GJ 9827 b, c and d are too close or too far away from the host star so they are more likely to harbor no life. But it is possible that their atmosphere will provide us with important information.