Original artworks from NASA

Kepler-186f is the first Earth-size planet discovered in the potentially 'habitable zone' around another star, where liquid water could exist on the planet's surface. Its star is much cooler and redder than our Sun. If plant life does exist on a planet like Kepler-186f, its photosynthesis could be influenced by the star's red-wavelength photons, making for a colour palette that's very different than the greens of the Earth. This discovery was made by Kepler, NASA's planet hunting telescope.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is an autonomous organization of the United States Federal Government liable for the regular citizen space program and aeronautics and space research. NASA was set up in 1958, succeeding the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA). Since its foundation, most US space investigation endeavours have been driven by NASA, including the Apollo Moon landing missions, the Skylab space station, and the Space Shuttle.