Kepler-186f facts for kids
Kepler-186f is a planet that orbits a star far, far away. Scientists call these "exoplanets." This special exoplanet goes around a small, cool star named Kepler 186. It's about 580 light years from Earth, in a group of stars called the Cygnus constellation.
The Kepler space telescope found Kepler-186f in 2014. What makes it exciting is that it's in the "habitable zone" of its star. This means it might have the right conditions for liquid water. It was the first exoplanet found that is similar in size to Earth and also in a habitable zone.
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About Kepler-186f
Size and Temperature
Kepler-186f is very similar in size to Earth. Scientists think it is about 97% to 125% the size of our planet. Its exact mass is not known yet. However, it could be up to 1.4 times the mass of Earth. The actual mass depends on what the planet is made of.
If Kepler-186f had no atmosphere, its temperature would be very cold. It would be around -91 Celsius (or 182 Kelvin).
Earth Similarity Index (ESI)
Scientists use something called the Earth Similarity Index (ESI). This number tells us how much an exoplanet is like Earth. For Kepler-186f, its ESI is thought to be about 0.58. A higher number means it's more like Earth.
Could Kepler-186f Support Life?
Kepler-186f is in the habitable zone of its star. This is the area where temperatures might be just right for liquid water to exist on a planet's surface. Liquid water is very important for life as we know it.
However, being in the habitable zone does not guarantee a planet can support life. Kepler-186f gets only about one-third of the sunlight that Earth receives. This is why its surface temperature is estimated to be very cold without an atmosphere. But, a greenhouse effect could warm the planet up. A greenhouse effect happens when gases in a planet's atmosphere trap heat.
In 2015, a study looked at several exoplanets. It suggested that Kepler-186f, along with Kepler-442b and Kepler-62f, are some of the best places to look for signs of life.
Images for kids
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NASA Exoplanet Exploration Program "travel poster" for Kepler-186f
See also
In Spanish: Kepler-186f para niños
