Kepler62e

Kepler-62e is an exoplanet in the Kepler-62 system, discovered with the Kepler Space Telescope using the transit method. It orbits its host star in a region that models place near the star’s temperate range, making it a subject of interest in discussions about potentially habitable worlds.

The host star, Kepler-62, is a cooler and smaller star than the Sun, classified as a K-type star. The Kepler-62 system contains multiple planets; Kepler-62e is one of several bodies identified in the system, with several others believed to lie near the habitable zone under certain model assumptions. The planet’s radius has been estimated from transit data to be larger than Earth’s, with commonly cited ranges suggesting it could be a rocky super-Earth or a more volatile-rich world. However, mass and precise composition remain uncertain, leaving its density and internal structure unresolved.

In terms of orbit, Kepler-62e travels around its star at a distance which places it at a cooler, more temperate environment than terrestrial planets in closer orbits around sun-like stars. Because its mass is not well constrained and no atmosphere has been detected, conclusions about its surface conditions and true habitability are speculative.

Discovery and characterization rely on transit observations from Kepler, with ongoing work needed to refine planetary parameters. Kepler-62e remains a notable example in discussions of sub-Neptune or super-Earth planets within or near habitable zones, illustrating the diversity of planetary systems found by transit surveys.