12/16/2022
The two planets are in orbit the star Kepler-138, which is 218 light years and situated in the Lyra constellation. They have volumes three times that of Earth, and masses twice as big – but are much less dense than our own planet.
Planets around Kepler-138 were first discovered in 2014, when they were spotted using with the Kepler Space Telescope. They were found using the transit method, where scientists watch the for small dip that happens when the planets pass in front of their star.
The new research relied on further observations from Nasa’s Hubble and Spitzer space telescopes, which allows researchers to determine the composition of the planets. That extra data led scientists to the belief that the planets were in fact water worlds.
Scientists caution that the water worlds do not look like the classic planet we might imagine, with a surface primarily like the oceans on our Earth. The planets are instead likely to be so hot that the water will immediately turn to steam, creating a thick and dense atmosphere that may hide liquid water.
The planets are also outside of the habitable zone, since they are far too hot for liquid water and are likely inhospitable to life. But new research also found an extra planet in the system, known as Kepler-138e – which is in the habitable zone.
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