Kepler-6b

"Kepler 6B" redirects here. For the 2023 film, see Kepler 6B (film).
Kepler-6b
Size comparison of Kepler-6b with Jupiter.
Discovery[1]
Discovery date2010-01-04
Transit (Kepler Mission)
Orbital characteristics
0.04567 ±0.00050 [2] AU
Eccentricity0
3.234723 ± 0.000017 [2] d
Inclination86.8 ± 0.3 [2]
StarKepler-6
Physical characteristics
1.323 ± 0.026[2] RJ
Mass0.669 ± 0.027[2] MJ
Mean density
0.352 ± 0.019 g/cm3 (0.01272 ± 0.00069 lb/cu in)[2]
Albedo0.11±0.04
Temperature1660 ± 100[3]

Kepler-6b is an extrasolar planet in the orbit of the unusually metal-rich Kepler-6, a star in the field of view of the NASA-operated Kepler spacecraft, which searches for planets that cross directly in front of, or transit, their host stars. It was the third planet to be discovered by Kepler. Kepler-6 orbits its host star every three days from a distance of .046 AU. Its proximity to Kepler-6 inflated the planet, about two-thirds the mass of Jupiter, to slightly larger than Jupiter's size and greatly heated its atmosphere.

Follow-up observations led to the planet's confirmation, which was announced at a meeting of the American Astronomical Society on January 4, 2010 along with four other Kepler-discovered planets.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Dunham2010 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b c d e f Cite error: The named reference Borucki2010 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Desert2011 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).