In the huge universe, scientists are always looking for planets that are like Earth. One of these amazing planets is called Kepler-10c, also known as the “Mega Earth.” Let’s learn about what makes Kepler-10c special, why it’s important for scientists, and how it compares to our planet, Earth.
Kepler-10c is a rocky planet far away, about 560 light-years from us, in a group of stars called the Draco constellation. NASA’s Kepler spacecraft found it in 2011. It’s the biggest rocky planet ever discovered! Kepler-10c is about 2.3 times wider than Earth and weighs 17 times more. This surprises scientists because they didn’t think such big rocky planets could exist.
Kepler-10c is around 18,000 miles wide, much larger than Earth. Unlike planets like Jupiter and Neptune, which are mostly made of gas, Kepler-10c is mostly rock. This is important because scientists used to think big planets like this would be made of gas, not rock.
Because Kepler-10c is so big, it has gravity that’s three times stronger than Earth’s. So, if you weigh 150 pounds on Earth, you’d weigh about 450 pounds on Kepler-10c! It’s also very hot there, with temperatures over 400 degrees Fahrenheit, because it’s close to its star.
A year on Kepler-10c is super short, only about 45 days long. This is because it goes around its star really fast, which also makes its environment very different from Earth’s.
Finding Kepler-10c was a big deal for scientists who are looking for planets like Earth. They want to learn about different kinds of planets and see if there might be life on them. A big rocky planet like Kepler-10c gives scientists new things to study, like its atmosphere and surface.
Scientists found Kepler-10c using something called the transit method. This means they watched the light from a star get dimmer when a planet passed in front of it. This helps them figure out the planet’s size and how it moves around its star.
Kepler-10c shows us how many different kinds of planets there are in the universe. It makes scientists think more about how planets are made and what they might be like. As we keep exploring space, studying planets like Kepler-10c helps us learn more about the universe and our place in it.
Gravity Experiment: Try a simple gravity experiment at home! Gather a small ball and a larger ball, like a tennis ball and a basketball. Drop them from the same height at the same time. Watch how they fall to the ground. Discuss with your friends or family why both balls hit the ground at the same time, even though they are different sizes. This will help you understand how gravity works on Earth and imagine how much stronger it would be on Kepler-10c!
Planet Size Comparison: Use clay or playdough to create models of Earth and Kepler-10c. Make sure Kepler-10c is about 2.3 times wider than your Earth model. This hands-on activity will help you visualize the size difference between the two planets. Once you’re done, discuss with your classmates or family why scientists are surprised by the size of Kepler-10c.
Design Your Own Planet: Imagine you are a scientist discovering a new planet. Draw a picture of your planet and think about these questions: What is it made of? How big is it compared to Earth? What is the weather like? Share your drawing and ideas with your class or family. This activity will help you think about the different characteristics that planets can have, just like Kepler-10c.
