Kepler-22b is the first exoplanet discovered that could potentially support life. It is located 600 light-years from Earth orbiting the star Kepler-22. Scientists estimate that if it had an atmosphere similar to Earth's, its average surface temperature would be 22°C, making liquid water possible. The Kepler Space Telescope discovered Kepler-22b in 2011 by measuring the dips in brightness of its host star as the planet transited in front of it.

1. KEPLER -22B
By: María Fanjul & Daniel Fernández

2. WHAT´S KEPLER-22B?
• Kepler-22b is an extrasolar
planet orbiting around the star
Kepler-22.
• It is about 600 light-years from
Earth in
the constellation of Cygnus.
• It was discovered by the Kepler
Space Telescope in December
2011.

3. WHAT ABOUT ITS (POSSIBLE)
CLIMATE?• Scientists can estimate the possible surface
conditions as follows:
• In the absence of an atmosphere,
its equilibrium of temperature would be
approximately 262 K (−11 °C).
• If the atmosphere provides a greenhouse
effect similar in magnitude to the one on
Earth, it would have an average surface
temperature of 295 K (22 °C).
• If the atmosphere has a greenhouse effect
similar in magnitude to the one on Venus, it
would have an average surface temperature
of 733 K (460 °C).

4. WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT?
• It´s the first exoplanet that has been
discovered.
• An exoplanet is a planet with the same
characteristics of the Earth that allow life.
Some of that characteristics are:
• Greenhouse effect, which retains the heat
of the host star.
• The presence of liquid water.
• A moderate temperature.
• Gases of the atmosphere.
• An average distance of the host star of
(more or less) 1.500.000 kilometres.

5. HOW DID THE NASA DISCOVER
IT?
• Kepler telescope discovers
planets and planet candidates
by measuring dips in the
brightness of stars.
• "Fortune smiled upon us with
the detection of this planet,"
said William Borucki, Kepler
principal investigator at
NASA.

7. GLOSSARY
Extrasolar: extrasolar
Surface conditions: condiciones de la superficie
Absence: ausencia
Magnitude: magnitud
Greenhouse effect: efecto invernadero
Host star: estrella anfitriona
Exoplanet: exoplaneta
Allows life: permite la vida
Dips: depresiones
Planet candidates: posibles planetas
Brightness: brillo
Transit: tránsito
Verify: verificar