Kepler-22B, an exoplanet just discovered by NASA's Kepler space telescope, is an exoplanet that could support life. The Kepler space telescope was built and sent into space to answer the timeless question, “Are we alone.” NASA has found Kepler-22b outside of our solar system some 600 light years distant. Kepler-22B resides in the magic habitable zone where liquid water is possible.
Kepler-22B is almost 2.5 times the size of Earth which is within the size realm to support life. Other planets that have been found were the size of massive Jupiter which makes life impossible. This near Earth sized planet also obits its sun close enough to make the surface temperature about 72 degrees Fahrenheit making life as we know it on Earth possible.
Its very possible that life could have arrived from outer space via comets and asteroids striking the planet. This same theory has been put forth about planet Earth. Water, life and the building blocks of life could be seeded throughout the universe in this manner.
It is unknown if Kepler-22B is an all water planet, an all rocky material planet or simply a gaseous planet. What we can learn about the planet is very limited but we do know that it has a year that is 290 days. The most current mission data from the Kepler space telescope has identified 48 candidate planets but Kepler-22B is the first one to be confirmed.
You better hold off on packing your bags for a Kepler-22B vacation. If you were to go there at space shuttle speeds it would take you about 22 million years. The best part is that science is now in the age of great planetary discoveries using the Kepler space telescope. We can now say the chances that we are not alone have been greatly improved. We may never know the answer but we can say it is now very possible.
Tags=> Kepler-22b exoplanet, habitable planet, discovery, are we alone, outside our solar sysetm, liquid water is possible
Tags=> Kepler-22b exoplanet, habitable planet, discovery, are we alone, outside our solar sysetm, liquid water is possible