Skip Navigation

Multimedia

NASA's Kepler Mission By the Numbers

Kepler was in orbit 9.6 years, used 3.12 gallons of fuel, observed 530,506 stars and led to the discovery of 2,662 planets.

During 9.6 years in orbit, the Kepler space telescope observed more than half a million stars and discovered more than 2,600 planets. See the mission by the numbers.

Credit

NASA

ENLARGE

Related

At only four light-years away, Proxima b is our closest known exoplanet neighbor.
More
An interactive 3D planet model of Proxima b.
Proxima b 3D Model
Artist's representation of the "habitable zone," the range of orbits where liquid water is permitted on the surface of a planet.
More
Odds are on Oodles of Earths
Odds are on Oodles of Earths
Today Kepler-452b is receiving 10 percent more energy from its parent star than the Earth is from the Sun. If Kepler-452b had the same mass as Earth it would be on the verge of experiencing the run...
More
A Window Into Time
A Window Into Time
This artist concept depicts "multiple-transiting planet systems," which are stars with more than one planet. The planets eclipse, or transit, their host stars from the vantage point of the observer...
More
Star System Bonanza
Star System Bonanza
This illustration shows three possible scenarios for the evolution of asteroid belts.
More
Scenarios for the Evolution of Asteroid Belts
Scenarios for the Evolution of Asteroid Belts
Large gas-giant planets like Jupiter may be more rare in the galaxy than small, rocky worlds like Earth.
More
Where are the Giants?
Where are the Giants?
NASA's Kepler mission confirmed the discovery of its first rocky planet, named Kepler-10b. Measuring 1.4 times the size of Earth, it is the smallest planet ever discovered outside our solar system.
More
Kepler Mission Discovers Its First Rocky Planet
Kepler Mission Discovers Its First Rocky Planet
Astronomers detect lowest-mass planet around a star like the sun found using direct imaging techniques.
More
Image of gas giant GJ 504b
Image of gas giant GJ 504b
This map, the first-ever of the surface of an exoplanet, shows temperature variations across the cloudy tops of a gas giant called HD 189733b.
More
First Map of an Exoplanet Atmosphere
First Map of an Exoplanet Atmosphere
NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope, launched in 2003, assisted in the discovery of planets beyond our solar system, including the detection of seven Earth-size planets orbiting the star TRAPPIST-1.
More
An interactive 3D model of NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope.
Spitzer Space Telescope 3D Model
The first discovery of an Earth-size planet in the habitable zones of another star meant planets other than Earth may have liquid water on their surface.
More
Infographic: Planet Kepler-186f, trailblazer
Infographic: Planet Kepler-186f, trailblazer
When we talk about the enormity of the cosmos, it’s easy to toss out big numbers – but far more difficult to wrap our minds around just how large, how far and how numerous celestial bodies really a...
More
A video explaining a light-year, how big our galaxy is and how far away exoplanets, the planets beyond our solar system really are.
Our Milky Way Galaxy: How Big is Space?
During the four years of science operations, the pointing precision of the spacecraft was controlled to within a few milli-arcseconds. That is the equivalent of keeping your gaze steady on a grain ...
More
Kepler's Precision Pointing
Kepler's Precision Pointing
Of the more than 1,000 verified planets found by NASA's Kepler Space Telescope, eight are less than twice Earth-size and in their stars' habitable zone. All eight orbit stars cooler and smaller tha...
More
NASA Kepler's Hall of Fame: Small Habitable Zone Exoplanets
NASA Kepler's Hall of Fame: Small Habitable Zone Exoplanets
Hubble is the first major optical telescope in space. Above the distortion of the atmosphere, far above clouds and light pollution, Hubble has an unobstructed view of the universe.
More
A 3D model of NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope.
Hubble Space Telescope 3D Model
The distribution of Kepler planet candidates by size as of January 2015.
More
Kepler Planet Candidates, January 2015
Kepler Planet Candidates, January 2015
This artist’s impression shows the remarkable planetary system around the Sun-like star HD 10180.
More
The Planetary System Around the Sun-like Star HD 10180
The Planetary System Around the Sun-like Star HD 10180
Do other planets beyond our solar system, called exoplanets, also host life forms?
More
In the Zone: How Scientists Search for Habitable Planets
In the Zone: How Scientists Search for Habitable Planets
An artist’s impression of a transiting exoplanet, named 'HD 189733b' - the first exoplanet found to have water vapor in its atmosphere.
More
Water, water everywhere - on an extrasolar planet
Water, water everywhere - on an extrasolar planet
The sweep of NASA Kepler mission’s search for small, habitable planets in the last six years.
More
Searching for Habitable Worlds
Searching for Habitable Worlds
NASA's Juno mission will help us solve the mystery of how hot Jupiters and other planets form.
More
A hot Jupiter races toward its star, only to be halted by a stop sign, symbolizing drag.
The mystery of planet formation
A whole new category of planets, Super Earths are quite common in our galaxy.
More
Super Earth—Super Girth
Super Earth—Super Girth
A new NASA-sponsored website, DiskDetective.org, lets the public discover embryonic planetary systems hidden among data from NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) mission.
More
Disk Detective: Search for Planetary Habitats
Disk Detective: Search for Planetary Habitats
The two planets of Kepler-47, the first transiting circumbinary system -- a system with more than one planet orbiting a pair of stars. Kepler-47b, on the right, has three times the radius of earth ...
More
Two Planets of Kepler-47
Two Planets of Kepler-47
NASA's Kepler mission has discovered 11 new planetary systems hosting 26 confirmed planets. These discoveries nearly double the number of verified Kepler planets and triple the number of stars know...
More
NASA's Kepler announces 11 new planetary systems
NASA's Kepler announces 11 new planetary systems

Explore Alien Worlds

Exoplanet Travel Bureau

This set of travel posters envision a day when the creativity of scientists and engineers will allow us to do things we can only dream of now.
More

Strange New Worlds

Explore an interactive gallery of some of the most intriguing and exotic planets discovered so far.
More
A planetary tour through time. The ancients debated the existence of planets beyond our own; now we know of thousands.

Historic Timeline

A planetary tour through time. The ancients debated the existence of planets beyond our own; now we know of thousands.
More