Gallery: The Art and Science of NASA's Best Exoplanet Illustrations

  • Image may contain Universe Space Astronomy Night Moon Outdoors Nature Outer Space Planet Globe and Earth
    NASA/JPL-Caltech/T. Pyle
    01

    kepler186f

    NASA artists spent a good deal of time figuring out how to make the recently discovered Kepler-186f (a.k.a. "Earth's cousin") look simultaneously like Earth and totally alien. Illustrator: Tim Pyle. Image: [NASA Ames/SETI Institute/JPL-Caltech](http://www.nasa.gov/ames/kepler/nasas-kepler-discovers-first-earth-size-planet-in-the-habitable-zone-of-another-star/#.U20_6q1g4io)
  • Image may contain Food Egg Universe Space Astronomy Outer Space Night Outdoors Nature Moon Planet and Sphere
    02

    kepler16

    This dramatic rendering shows Kepler-16b eclipsing in front of its two parent stars. Illustrator: Robert Hurt. *Image: [NASA/JPL-Caltech/R. Hurt](http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/kepler/multimedia/images/Kepler-16_transit-art.html)*
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    03

    kepler20e

    Artists have to be particularly imaginative in coming up with view of Kepler-20e, a world covered in active volcanoes whose surface temperature is 1,400 degrees Fahrenheit. Illustrator: Tim Pyle. *Image: [NASA/Ames/JPL-Caltech](http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/kepler/multimedia/images/kepler-20e.html)*
  • Image may contain Universe Space Night Moon Astronomy Outdoors Outer Space Nature Planet Earth and Globe
    04

    kepler22b

    Kepler-22b was the first exoplanet discovered that could potentially have liquid water on its surface. Illustrator: Robert Hurt. *Image: [NASA/Ames/JPL-Caltech](http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/kepler/multimedia/images/kepler-22b.html#.U202m61g4iq)*
  • Image may contain Astronomy Universe Space Outer Space and Planet
    05

    kepler42

    The tiny system around KOI-961 contains planets about the size of Mars. Illustrator: Tim Pyle. *Image: [NASA/JPL-Caltech](http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/kepler/multimedia/images/mini-planetary-system.html)*
  • Image may contain Universe Space Night Moon Astronomy Outdoors Nature Outer Space Planet Globe and Earth
    NASA/JPL-Caltech/T. Pyle
    06

    kepler62fe

    Kepler-62f is a world 40 percent larger than our own that might have liquid water on its surface. Illustrator: Tim Pyle *Image: [NASA Ames/JPL-Caltech](http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/kepler/multimedia/images/kepler-morningstar.html#.U203161g4ip)*
  • Image may contain Nature Outdoors Universe Space Comet Night Astronomy and Outer Space
    NASA/JPL-Caltech/R. Hurt (SSC)
    07

    This artist's conception illustrates a storm of comets around a star near our own, called Eta Corvi.

    Observations from the Spitzer space telescope showed that Eta Corvi, a star near our own, was surrounded by a dusty sphere of comets. Illustrator: Robert Hurt. *Image: [NASA/JPL-Caltech/](http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/images/4772-ssc2011-08a-It-s-Raining-Comets)*
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    08

    keplercfaharvard

    This artist's conception from Harvard shows shows Kepler-34b, a gas-giant orbiting a double-star system. *Image: [David A. Aguilar (CfA)](http://www.cfa.harvard.edu/imagelist/2012-02)*
  • Image may contain Universe Space Moon Astronomy Night Outdoors Outer Space Nature Planet Earth and Globe
    NASA/JPL-Caltech/T. Pyle
    09

    kepler62

    A view of Kepler-62f, a super-Earth in its stars habitable zone. Illustrator: Tim Pyle. *Image: [NASA Ames/JPL-Caltech](http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/kepler/multimedia/images/kepler-62f.html#.U202461g4ip)*
  • Image may contain Universe Space Astronomy Outer Space Night Moon Outdoors Nature Planet and Globe
    10

    keplercometplanet

    The Mercury-scale planet around KIC 12557548 is having its surface scorched to such a degree that a comet-like tail extends out into space. Illustrator: Tim Pyle. *Image: [NASA/JPL-Caltech](http://www.nasa.gov/centers/ames/news/features/2012/Kepler_Detects_Potential_Evaporating_Planet_feature.html)*
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