We describe the circumstances that led to the discovery of Kepler-36b, and the subsequent characterization of its host planetary system. The Kepler-36 system is remarkable for its physical properties: the close separation of the planets, the contrasting densities of the planets despite their proximity, and the short chaotic timescale. Its discovery and characterization was also remarkable for the novelty of the detection technique and for the precise characterization due to the large transit-timing variations caused by the close proximity of the planets, as well as the precise stellar parameters due to asteroseismology. This was the first multi-planet system whose transit data was processed using a fully consistent photometric-dynamical model, using population Markov Chain Monte Carlo techniques to precisely constrain system parameters. Amongst those parameters, the stellar density was found to be consistent with a complementary, concurrent asteroseismic analysis. In a first, the 3D orientation of the planets was constrained from the lack of transit-duration variations. The system yielded insights into the composition and evolution of short-period planet systems. The denser planet appears to have an Earth-like composition, with uncertainties comparable to the highest precision rocky exoplanet measurements, and the planet densities foreshadowed the rocky/gaseous boundary. The formation of this system remains a mystery, but should yield insights into the migration and evolution of compact exoplanet systems.

中文翻译：

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Kepler-36b 的发现和表征

我们描述了导致发现 Kepler-36b 的情况，以及随后对其宿主行星系统的表征。Kepler-36 系统因其物理特性而引人注目：行星之间的紧密分离、行星尽管距离很近但密度却相反，以及混乱的时间尺度短。它的发现和表征也因其探测技术的新颖性和由于行星的接近引起的大凌日时间变化而导致的精确表征以及由于星震学引起的精确恒星参数而引人注目。这是第一个使用完全一致的光度动力学模型处理过境数据的多行星系统，使用人口马尔可夫链蒙特卡罗技术精确约束系统参数。在这些参数中，发现恒星密度与互补的同步星震分析一致。首先，行星的 3D 方向因缺乏凌日持续时间变化而受到限制。该系统深入了解了短周期行星系统的组成和演化。这颗密度较大的行星似乎具有类似地球的成分，其不确定性可与最高精度的岩石系外行星测量相媲美，并且行星密度预示着岩石/气态边界。该系统的形成仍然是个谜，但应该可以深入了解致密系外行星系统的迁移和演化。由于缺乏凌日持续时间的变化，行星的 3D 方向受到限制。该系统深入了解了短周期行星系统的组成和演化。这颗密度较大的行星似乎具有类似地球的成分，其不确定性可与最高精度的岩石系外行星测量相媲美，并且行星密度预示着岩石/气态边界。该系统的形成仍然是个谜，但应该可以深入了解致密系外行星系统的迁移和演化。由于缺乏凌日持续时间的变化，行星的 3D 方向受到限制。该系统深入了解了短周期行星系统的组成和演化。这颗密度较大的行星似乎具有类似地球的成分，其不确定性可与最高精度的岩石系外行星测量相媲美，并且行星密度预示着岩石/气态边界。该系统的形成仍然是个谜，但应该可以深入了解致密系外行星系统的迁移和演化。行星密度预示着岩石/气态边界。该系统的形成仍然是个谜，但应该可以深入了解致密系外行星系统的迁移和演化。行星密度预示着岩石/气态边界。该系统的形成仍然是个谜，但应该可以深入了解致密系外行星系统的迁移和演化。