Kepler-56 is a red giant about 3,060 light-years (940 pc) away in the constellation Cygnus, with slightly more mass than the Sun. It is a star located approximately 3,000 light-years away from Earth in the constellation Cygnus. It is a G-type main-sequence star, similar in size and mass to the Sun. It is a G-type star, similar in size and temperature to our Sun, but it is about 1.5 billion years older.
In 2013, NASA’s Kepler spacecraft discovered a planetary system orbiting Kepler-56. The system consists of two confirmed planets, Kepler-56b and Kepler-56c, both of which are gas giants similar in size to Jupiter. Kepler-56b orbits very close to its star with a period of only 10.5 days, while Kepler-56c orbits farther away with a period of 21.4 days.
One interesting feature of the Kepler-56 system is that the two planets have highly inclined orbits, which means they do not orbit in the same plane as the star’s equator. This suggests that the planets may have been perturbed by other planets in the system or by a passing star.
Planetary system
Using the transit method, scientists discovered a two-planet planetary system around Kepler-56 in 2012. Asteroseismological studies revealed that the orbits of Kepler-56b and Kepler-56c are coplanar but 45° off the equator of the host star. Furthermore, follow-up radial velocity measurements revealed the presence of a gravitational perturbator. In 2016, it was determined that the perturbations are caused by a third, non-transiting planet.
Kepler-56 is also known for its unusually large and oblate shape, which is thought to be caused by its fast rotation. The star rotates once every 19 hours, which is much faster than the Sun’s 25-day rotation period. This rapid rotation causes the star to bulge out at the equator, making it nearly twice as wide as it is tall.
Kepler-56 has also been studied in detail to learn more about its internal structure and evolution. Observations suggest that the star has a convective envelope, which means that it mixes its internal gases, allowing for a more efficient transfer of energy from the core to the outer layers. This mixing process can lead to enhanced magnetic activity and the formation of starspots on the surface of the star.
The planetary system is small but dynamically stable. In 130 and 155 million years, the expanding star will devour Kepler-56b and Kepler-56c, respectively. Overall, Kepler-56 is an interesting system for studying the formation and evolution of gas giant planets, as well as the effects of fast rotation on stellar structure.
