Circumbinary Planet Kepler-16b (IMAGE)
Caption
Kepler-16b, shown in this artist's conception, enjoys double sunsets as it circles a pair of stars. The orange (type K) and red (type M) stars orbit each other every 41 days, while Kepler-16b orbits them both every 229 days at a distance of 65 million miles. Kepler-16b is similar to Saturn in size and mass, with a surface temperature of about -100 to -150 degrees Fahrenheit.
Credit
David A. Aguilar (CfA)
Usage Restrictions
None
License
Licensed content