Kepler-124b

Kepler-124b
Exoplanet List of exoplanets
Parent star
Star Kepler-124
Constellation Cygnus
Right ascension (α) 19h 07m 00s[1]
Declination (δ) +49° 03′ 53″[1]
Distance1,170[1] ly
(359[1] pc)
Mass (m) 0.84 ± 0.03[1] M☉
Radius (r) 0.64 ± 0.03[1] R☉
Orbital elements
Semi-major axis(a) 0.039[2] AU
Orbital period(P) 3.4105 ± 0.0000[1] d
Physical characteristics
Radius(r)0.73 ± 0.05[1] R⊕
Discovery information
Discovery date 2014[1]
Discoverer(s)
Discovery method Primary Transit[2]
Discovery status Confirmed[2]
Database references
Extrasolar Planets
Encyclopaedia		data
SIMBADdata
Exoplanet Archivedata
Open Exoplanet Cataloguedata

Kepler-124b is an extrasolar planet discovered in 2014. It is located 359 parsecs (1,170 light-years) from Earth, orbiting the unclassified star Kepler-124 in the constellation Cygnus. Within The Kepler-124 system (KOI-241) there are three known planets, Kepler-124b being both the smallest and closest to its parent star.

Characteristics

Kepler-124b is located 359 parsecs (1,170 light-years) from Earth orbiting the star Kepler-124. Both Kepler-124b and its host star are smaller than our own planet and star, respectively; Kepler-124b is estimated to be 40% smaller than Earth at 0.73±0.05 Earth radii (0.067±0.005 Jupiter radii), and its parent star Kepler-124 is estimated to be 56% smaller than the Sun at 0.64±0.03 solar radii.

It is the smallest discovered planet in the Kepler-124 system, and has the closest orbit of the three known planets. Kepler-124b orbits 96% closer to its star than Earth (approximately 3 Earth days), which in the Kepler-124 system is inside the inner limit of the star's habitable zone.

Discovery

Like many Exoplanets discovered by the Kepler telescope, Kepler-124b was found using the transit method. The transit method utilizes the high magnification and numerous instruments on the Kepler telescope to detect slight fluctuations in brightness of a star being observed. These dips can indicate the presence planet and determine certain parameters of it as well. Kepler-124b was initially only a planet candidate but was later confirmed as an exoplanet; a statistical analysis by a team at NASA Ames Research Center validated the existence of Kepler-124b with 99% assurance, along with Kepler-124c and Kepler-124d. Although scientists are very confident about some of Kepler-124b’s parameters, many are still unknown. [1][3]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Kepler-124". Open Exoplanet Catalogue. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 "Planet Kepler-124 b". The Extrasolar Planet Encyclopedia. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
  3. ↑ "Transit Photometry: A Method for Finding Earths". The Planetary Society. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
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