Amita Vadlamudi is a computer systems analyst and engineer with extensive experience in computer languages, mainframe systems, and peripherals. Amita Vadlamudi has a longstanding interest in astronomy and the forces that are shaping the cosmos. While the Earth’s solar system has one sun, that is not necessarily the norm, with scientists positing that millions of planets in the galaxy may orbit two suns.
In August 2015, a team of scientists discovered the 10th known “circumbinary” planet, which orbits two suns. Known as Kepler-453b, the planet exists within the habitable zone of both suns, where life could possibly exist. However, it is more than six times the size of the Earth, which indicates a gas giant, rather than the rocky planet type able to harbor life. This does not extinguish the possibility of life, as its moons could be rocky.
Discovering exoplanets that exist outside the immediate solar system is rare, as it is accomplished through observation of minute starlight decreases as planets pass between the Earth and the host star. If Kepler-453b had not been discovered this year, the next possible chance would have arrived in 2066.
In August 2015, a team of scientists discovered the 10th known “circumbinary” planet, which orbits two suns. Known as Kepler-453b, the planet exists within the habitable zone of both suns, where life could possibly exist. However, it is more than six times the size of the Earth, which indicates a gas giant, rather than the rocky planet type able to harbor life. This does not extinguish the possibility of life, as its moons could be rocky.
Discovering exoplanets that exist outside the immediate solar system is rare, as it is accomplished through observation of minute starlight decreases as planets pass between the Earth and the host star. If Kepler-453b had not been discovered this year, the next possible chance would have arrived in 2066.
