Kepler 16b is the first planet known to orbit around two stars. Kepler 16b is 200 light years from Earth. Kepler 16 is a binary star system comprising of Kepler 16A and Kepler 16B, note that Kepler 16B is the star and Kepler 16b is the planet.
Kepler-16b was the Kepler telescope’s first discovery of a planet in a “circumbinary” orbit– circling two stars, as opposed to one star in a double-star system. Like Luke Skywalker's home planet Tatooine, Kepler-16b would have two sunsets if you could stand on its surface. This planet, however, is likely cold, about the size of Saturn and gaseous, though partly composed of rock. It lies outside its two stars’ “habitable zone,” where liquid water could exist. And its stars are cooler than our sun, probably rendering the planet lifeless. Of course, we could look on the bright side (so to speak). When the discovery was announced in 2011, Bill Borucki, the now-retired NASA principal investigator for Kepler at Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California, said finding the new planet might actually broaden the prospects for life in our galaxy. About half of all stars belong to binary systems, so the fact that planets form around these, as well as around single stars, can only increase the odds.
- Our Life Mirrored by Two Suns: Kepler 16b, 2019. Sirius Arts Centre, Cobh, Cork, Ireland. In this textile installation Bolster depicts an imagined version of the planet Kepler 16b, which was discovered by SETI scientist Laurance Doyle, as part of the Kepler Mission on the 15th of September 2011.
- The planet, called Kepler-16b, is the most 'Tatooine-like' planet yet found in our galaxy. Tatooine is the name of Luke Skywalker's home world in the science fiction movie Star Wars. In this case, the planet is.
- Scratcher Joined 3 years, 10 months ago Russia. What I'm working on. Featured Project. Plants Vs Ghost(s). What I've been doing. Shared Projects (45) View all. LevlCreatorDraw V. 0.1 by KEPLER-16B; Okay, spoil my project by KEPLER-16B; My new.
- Give your room a Sci-Fi twist with 'Kepler-16b'. The vintage look and feel of this piece pair well with the futuristic idea. It's a playful addition to your bedroom, study or living room. The bright yellow, red and orange color scheme make it warm and inviting. This piece exudes a sense of adventure and discovery and is full of personality.
Discover the cosmos!Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe isfeatured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. Eleanor checks in.
2011 September 20
Illustrated Video Credit: NASA, JPL-Caltech, T. Pyle; Acknowledgement: djxatlanta
Explanation: If you stay up long enough, you can watch both suns set.Such might be a common adage from beings floating in the atmosphere of Kepler 16b, a planet recently discovered by the space-based Kepler satellite.The above animated video shows how the planetary system might look to a visiting spaceship.Although multiple star systems are quite common, this is the first known to have a planet.Because our Earth is in the orbital plane of both stars and the planet, each body is seen to eclipse the others at different times, producing noticeable drop offs in the amount of light seen.The frequent eclipses have given Kepler 16b the most accurate mass and radius determination for a planet outside our Solar System.To find a planet like Saturn in an orbit like Venus -- so close to its binary star parents -- was a surprise and will surely become a focus of research.
Looking for a free, simple, online DOCX, RTF, ODT editor? Our online Word document processor allows to create, view & edit documents quickly and easily for free. The best way to view and edit your documents anywhere through your laptop, mobile phone or tablet. Please, feel free to check our powerful Cloud SDKs and other easy-to-use online Apps. Online word document editor free. Collaborate for free with an online version of Microsoft Word. Save documents in OneDrive. Share them with others and work together at the same time.
Tomorrow's picture: 
Kepler 16b Planet
Kepler 16b Facts
dusty sisters<| Archive| Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education| About APOD| Discuss| >Kepler 16b Poster
Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff(MTU) &Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
NASA Official: Phillip NewmanSpecific rights apply.
NASA WebPrivacy Policy and Important Notices
A service of:ASD atNASA /GSFC
&Michigan Tech. U.