Kepler-37d is an exoplanet discovered by the Kepler space telescope in February 2013.[4] It is located 209 light years away,[5] in the constellation Lyra.[4] With an orbital period of 39.8 days,[3] it is the largest of the three known planets orbiting its parent star Kepler-37.[6]

Kepler-37d
Discovery[1]
Discovery siteKepler space telescope
Discovery date2013
Transit
Orbital characteristics[2]
0.2109±0.0030 AU
Eccentricity<0.10
39.7922622(65) d
Inclination89.335°+0.043°
−0.047°
StarKepler-37
Physical characteristics[2]
Mean radius
2.030+0.030
−0.039
 R🜨
Mass5.4±1.4 M🜨[3] or <2.0 M🜨[2]
Mean density
4.29+0.52
−0.74
 g/cm3
[3] or <1.3 g/cm3[2]
Temperature499±K (226 °C; 439 °F, equilibrium)

A 2021 study detected Kepler-37d via radial velocity, finding a mass of about 5.4 ME,[3] but a 2023 study instead found an upper limit on its mass of only 2 ME.[2] In either case, it is not a rocky planet, but a low-density planet rich in volatiles.

In 2015, a grant was approved to further expand the Sagan Planet Walk by installing a Kepler-37d station on the Moon 384,500 kilometers (238,900 mi) away.[7][8]

Host star edit

The planet orbits a (G-type) star similar to the Sun, named Kepler-37, orbited by a total of four planets. The star has a mass of 0.80 M and a radius of 0.79 R. It has a temperature of 5417 K and is 5.66 billion years old. In comparison, the Sun is 4.6 billion years old,[9] and has a temperature of 5778 K.[10]

The star's apparent magnitude, or how bright it appears from Earth's perspective, is 9.71. Therefore, it is too dim to be seen with the naked eye.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Barclay, T.; Rowe, J. F.; Lissauer, J. J.; Huber, D.; Fressin, F.; Howell, S. B.; Bryson, S. T.; Chaplin, W. J.; Désert, J. M. (2013-02-20). "A sub-Mercury-sized exoplanet". Nature. 494 (7438): 452–4. arXiv:1305.5587. Bibcode:2013Natur.494..452B. doi:10.1038/nature11914. ISSN 0028-0836. PMID 23426260. S2CID 205232792.
  2. ^ a b c d e Bonomo, A. S.; Dumusque, X.; et al. (April 2023). "Cold Jupiters and improved masses in 38 Kepler and K2 small-planet systems from 3661 high-precision HARPS-N radial velocities. No excess of cold Jupiters in small-planet systems". Astronomy & Astrophysics. arXiv:2304.05773. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/202346211. S2CID 258078829.
  3. ^ a b c d Rajpaul, V. M.; Buchhave, L. A.; Lacedelli, G.; Rice, K.; Mortier, A.; Malavolta, L.; Aigrain, S.; Borsato, L.; Mayo, A. W.; Charbonneau, D.; Damasso, M.; Dumusque, X.; Ghedina, A.; Latham, D. W.; López-Morales, M.; Magazzù, A.; Micela, G.; Molinari, E.; Pepe, F.; Piotto, G.; Poretti, E.; Rowther, S.; Sozzetti, A.; Udry, S.; Watson, C. A. (2021), "A HARPS-N mass for the elusive Kepler-37d: A case study in disentangling stellar activity and planetary signals", Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 507 (2): 1847–1868, arXiv:2107.13900, doi:10.1093/mnras/stab2192
  4. ^ a b Black, Charles. "NASA's Kepler discovers small planet system". SEN TV LIMITED. Archived from the original on 23 February 2013. Retrieved 25 February 2013.
  5. ^ Vallenari, A.; et al. (Gaia collaboration) (2023). "Gaia Data Release 3. Summary of the content and survey properties". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 674: A1. arXiv:2208.00211. Bibcode:2023A&A...674A...1G. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/202243940. S2CID 244398875. Gaia DR3 record for this source at VizieR.
  6. ^ Harwood, William. "Kepler telescope spots smallest exoplanet yet". Spaceflight Now Inc. Retrieved 25 February 2013.
  7. ^ "Tompkins County Strategic Tourism Planning Board" (PDF). Tompkins County NY. April 15, 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 27, 2016. Retrieved March 5, 2016.
  8. ^ "Kepler-37d".
  9. ^ Fraser Cain (16 September 2008). "How Old is the Sun?". Universe Today. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  10. ^ Fraser Cain (15 September 2008). "Temperature of the Sun". Universe Today. Retrieved 19 February 2011.