GSC 03549-02811 (sometimes referred to as Kepler-1, or either TrES-2A or TrES-2 parent star in reference to its exoplanet TrES-2b) is a binary star system containing a G-type main-sequence star, G-type main sequence, main-sequence star similar to the Sun. This star is located approximately 704 light-years away in the constellation of Draco (constellation), Draco. The apparent magnitude of this star is 11.41, which means it is not visible to the naked eye but can be seen with a medium-sized amateur telescope on a clear dark night. The age of this star is about 5 billion years.

Nomenclature

The designation GSC 03549-02811 comes from the Guide Star Catalog. The star is often called TrES-2, in reference to its planet discovered by the Trans-Atlantic Exoplanet Survey (TrES). The discovery paper and the SIMBAD database use this designation for the planet itself, but other sources call the star TrES-2 (or TrES-2A) and the planet TrES-2b, following the standard exoplanet naming convention. In keeping with the planet being component b, the companion star is designated TrES-2C, although it is also designated Kepler-1B. The planet was also observed by the Kepler space telescope, and so the star is also known as Kepler-1. Since the planet Astronomical transit, transits the star, the star is classified as a planetary transit variable and has received the variable star designation V581 Draconis.

Binary star

In 2008 a study was undertaken of fourteen stars with exoplanets that were originally discovered using the Methods of detecting extrasolar planets#Transit method, transit method through relatively small telescopes. These systems were re-examined with the 2.2M reflector telescope at the Calar Alto Observatory in Spain. This star system, along with two others, was determined to be a previously unknown binary star system. The previously unknown secondary star is a dim apparent magnitude, magnitude 15 Stellar classification#Class K, K-type star separated by about 232 Astronomical unit, AU from the primary, appearing offset from the primary by about one arc second in the images. This discovery resulted in a significant recalculation of parameters for both the planet and the primary star.

Planetary system

In 2006, the exoplanet TrES-2b was discovered by the Trans-Atlantic Exoplanet Survey using the Methods of detecting extrasolar planets#Transit method, transit method. It was also within the Kepler Mission#Known extrasolar planets in Kepler.27s field of view, field of view of the Kepler Mission planet-hunter spacecraft. This system continues to be studied by other projects and the parameters are continuously improved. The planet orbits the primary star. TrES-2b is a hot Jupiter, with a mass and size similar to those of Jupiter but an orbital period of only two days. Its orbit is Retrograde and prograde motion, prograde relative to its star's rotation. In 2011, TrES-2b was found to have a very low albedo, reflecting less than 1 percent of the light from its star, making it the darkest known exoplanet at the time. However, it also emits a significant amount of light because its surface temperature is so hot that it glows red. Due to its close orbit, it is assumed to be Tidal locking, tidally locked to its parent star.

The Kepler mission

In March 2009, NASA launched the Kepler spacecraft. This spacecraft was a dedicated mission to discover extrasolar planets by the Methods of detecting extrasolar planets#Transit method, transit method from solar orbit. In April 2009 the project released the First light (astronomy), first light images from the spacecraft, and TrES-2b was one of two objects highlighted in these images. Although TrES-2b was not the only known exoplanet in the field of view of this spacecraft, it was the only one identified in the first-light images. This object was important for calibration and check-out.

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