description Kepler-20e Overview
Kepler-20e is an extrasolar planet orbiting the sun-like star Kepler-20, located approximately 950 light-years away from Earth. Detected by NASA's Kepler space telescope, its discovery was officially confirmed in December 2011, marking it as one of the first identified Earth-sized exoplanets. The planet possesses a radius approximately 0.87 times that of Earth, indicating a rocky, terrestrial composition. Due to its extremely close orbital distance to its host star, Kepler-20e has a surface temperature far too high to support liquid water, classifying it as a hot planet.
help Kepler-20e FAQ
How was Kepler-20e discovered?
NASA's Kepler space telescope detected Kepler-20e through the transit method, observing the slight dimming of its star as the planet passed in front of it. The discovery was officially announced in December 2011.
How far away is Kepler-20e?
Kepler-20e orbits the star Kepler-20, roughly 950 to 1,000 light-years from Earth in the constellation Lyra. That places it far beyond the planets in our own Solar System.
How long does Kepler-20e take to orbit its star?
Kepler-20e completes one orbit in about 6.1 Earth days. NASA lists its orbital distance as approximately 0.0637 astronomical units from Kepler-20.
Could Kepler-20e support life?
Kepler-20e is Earth-sized, but it orbits extremely close to its star and is not in the habitable zone. Its short 6.1-day orbit indicates a much hotter environment than Earth.
explore Explore More
Similar to Kepler-20e
ui.x_see_all arrow_forward
Reviews & Comments
Write a Review
Be the first to review
Share your thoughts with the community and help others make better decisions.
