Study Guide: The Kepler-90 Star System

The Kepler-90 System Overview

The Kepler-90 system is a distant star system located over 2,500 light years away. The central star, Kepler-90, is both larger and hotter than our own sun. Notably, this system contains 8 planets, a number that mirrors the count of planets in our own solar system.

Planetary Composition

The planets within the Kepler-90 system vary significantly based on their position relative to the star:

• Inner Planets: These include Kepler-90i, a newly discovered planet that is likely rocky and similar to Earth. However, due to its extreme proximity to the star, it has a scorching average surface temperature of approximately 400° C and a short orbital period of only 14.4 days.
• Outer Planets: The planets located further from the star are larger and composed primarily of gas.

The Kepler Space Telescope

Launched in March 2009, the primary mission of the Kepler space telescope is to scan specific sections of the universe to discover new stars and planetary systems.

The Role of Artificial Intelligence

NASA collaborated with Google, which provided the AI software used to analyze the vast amounts of data collected by the Kepler telescope. The integration of AI is highly significant because it allows for more efficient data analysis and is expected to uncover additional planets that may have been missed by human analysis.