Is there a way to tell what the surface of a planet is like?
The answer to your question for that specific planet is No. 

There is no way at this point in time to tell if Kepler-442b is a big barren rock or a water world or like earth for that matter. They only know it is there because it passes in front of the star it is orbiting and that dims the light. That is the only reason they know it is there. 

This planet is not visible.