Kepler-6b
Kepler-6b is an extrasolar planet in the orbit of the unusually metal-rich Kepler-6, a star in the field of view of the NASA-operated Kepler spacecraft, which searches for planets that cross directly in front of, or transit, their host stars. It was the third planet to be discovered by Kepler. Kepler-6 orbits its host star every three days from a distance of .046 AU. Its proximity to Kepler-6 inflated the planet, about two-thirds the mass of Jupiter, to slightly larger than Jupiter's size and greatly heated its atmosphere.
Size comparison of Kepler-6b with Jupiter. | |
| Discovery | |
|---|---|
| Discovery date | 2010-01-04 |
| Transit (Kepler Mission) | |
| Orbital characteristics | |
| 0.04567 ±0.00050 AU | |
| Eccentricity | 0 |
| 3.234723 ± 0.000017 d | |
| Inclination | 86.8 ± 0.3 |
| Star | Kepler-6 |
| Physical characteristics | |
Mean radius | 1.323 ± 0.026 RJ |
| Mass | 0.669 ± 0.027 MJ |
Mean density | 0.352 ± 0.019 g/cm3 (0.01272 ± 0.00069 lb/cu in) |
| Albedo | 0.11±0.04 |
| Temperature | 1660 ± 100 |
Follow-up observations led to the planet's confirmation, which was announced at a meeting of the American Astronomical Society on January 4, 2010 along with four other Kepler-discovered planets.
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