Exoplanet Science From {\it Kepler}

Abstract

The Kepler spacecraft, whose single instrument was a 0.95 m diameter wide-field telescope, operated in a heliocentric orbit for nearly a decade, returning a wealth of data that have revolutionized exoplanet science. Kepler data have been used to discover thousands of planets, including hundreds of multi-planet systems. Kepler discoveries have greatly expanded the diversity of known exoplanets and planetary system properties. Moreover, Kepler has provided the best estimates of exoplanet occurrence rates as functions of planetary sizes, orbital periods and stellar type, with precise values for planets with $P \lesssim 1$ yr. We provide herein an overview of the mission and its major findings regarding the occurrence rates of planets, the mass-radius relationship for exoplanets and the architectures of planetary systems.