Destination 6 - Kepler 186
Kepler-186 is a main-sequence M1-type dwarf star located approximately 579 light years away in the constellation of Cygnus. This star is notable for hosting the first Earth-sized planet discovered in the habitable zone: Kepler-186f.
- Type: M1-type red dwarf, bordering on K-type orange dwarf.
- Mass: 0.544 times the mass of the Sun.
- Temperature: Slightly cooler than the Sun.
- Metallicity: Roughly half of the Sun's metallicity.
- Brightness: H band magnitude: 11.605, J band magnitude: 12.473, K band magnitude: 11.605.
- Apparent Magnitude: 14.90 (R) and 16.40 (B), too dim to be seen with the naked eye.
- Variable Star: BY Draconis variable with a 33.695-day brightness fluctuation due to star-spots.
- Planetary System: Kepler-186 hosts five known planets, four of which orbit inside the habitable zone.
- Kepler-186f: The first Earth-sized planet discovered in a habitable zone, making it a prime target for the study of potentially habitable worlds.
Advanced techniques, such as speckle imaging and adaptive optics from the W. M. Keck and Gemini Observatories, have confirmed the planetary system by ruling out other possibilities.
As we venture through this star system, we will explore how these exoplanets, especially Kepler-186f, expand our understanding of habitable zones and Earth-like worlds in the universe.
Prepare for an extraordinary adventure as we set our course through the unknown, expanding the boundaries of human knowledge and understanding of the universe.