Follow
For the past six years Kepler spacecraft telescope has been observing the universe and has provided humanity with important new information about new planets.
Another example of how much Kepler has helped science, came a few days ago when, thanks to the sensitive data collected by the space telescope, scientists were able to figure out what was the weather pattern on six distant exoplanets that have atmosphere.
For the longest of time, the prospect of another Earth has enchanted the minds of visionaries, but since none of the other planets in our solar system were capable of sustaining life, we had to look further if we were going to find such a planet.
Kepler does just that and it managed to find over 1000 new planets so far. More than that it also helps researches figure out if the planets are in habitable area and what other prominent features the planet might have.
The Kepler telescope is able to figure out weather pattern on an exoplanet by observing its proximity to the star around it orbits. If she orbits the star counter-clockwise, than its winds have an eastward direction. This is the case with the six exoplanets mentioned before.
Scientists also figured out that the planets have a day and night cycle and while the clouds are formed during the night, they are rapidly dissipated during the day and the heat they exude gathers around the equator of the planet. This means sizzling temperature, that peak during the afternoon (similar to summer weather).
The temperature on those exoplanets can reach about 1,600 degrees Celsius or 2,900 degrees Fahrenheit. They also have quite a large mass placing these exoplanets alongside hot giant planets like Jupiter.
And even though these planets are no hospitable, they do offer insight on how observation regarding weather on other planets can be done effectively.
The Kepler also observed that the planets gave out excessive amount light during certain periods of the cycle. This can be explained through reflection of the star or it could just have been a wave of thermal emission strong enough to generate light.
Kepler continues his search for hospitable planets and in the thousand of planets he has already found, there are two rocky planets that are located in what is presumed to be a habitable area. However, more research is needed in order to truly assess if those planets can sustain life.
Image Source: flickfilosopher
