EPIC 201615463 c
EPIC 201615463 c is a terrestrial planet orbiting K2-166 in the constellation Virgo. It lies about 1,555 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2019 using the transit method.
How Big Is EPIC 201615463 c?
EPIC 201615463 c has a radius of 1.22 times that of Earth.
Is EPIC 201615463 c in the Habitable Zone?
The position of EPIC 201615463 c relative to the habitable zone of K2-166 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Habitable zone of K2-166: 1.271–2.982 AU (conservative: 1.610–2.827 AU), per Kopparapu et al. (2014). Earth orbits the Sun at 1 AU.
See the full interactive habitable-zone view in the Exoplanet Explorer app ›
Orbit and Year Length
A year on EPIC 201615463 c — one full orbit around K2-166 — lasts 3.80 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year.
How Was EPIC 201615463 c Discovered?
EPIC 201615463 c was discovered in 2019 using the transit method, with observations from K2.
The transit method watches a star for the tiny, regular dip in brightness that occurs when a planet crosses in front of it. The depth and timing of these dips reveal the planet's size and orbital period.
How Far Away Is EPIC 201615463 c?
EPIC 201615463 c is 1,555.4 light-years (476.9 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet about 1,555 years ago. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 27,375,040 years to make the journey.
Earth Similarity Index
The Earth Similarity Index (ESI) scores how physically similar a planet is to Earth, from 0 to 1, based on radius, density, escape velocity and surface temperature. EPIC 201615463 c scores 0.29, ranking #1,819 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: K2-166
K2-166
- Surface temperature
- 5,960 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 1.16 M☉
- Radius
- 1.61 R☉
The K2-166 Planetary System
EPIC 201615463 c is one of 2 known planets in the K2-166 system. Its siblings:
- K2-166 b (Mini Neptune)
EPIC 201615463 c — Complete Data
| Radius | 1.220 Earth radii (0.109 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 3.80 days |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.29 |
| Distance from Earth | 1,555.4 light-years (476.9 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Virgo |
| Discovery method | Transit |
| Discovery facility | K2 |
| Discovery year | 2019 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2019-06-03. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About EPIC 201615463 c
Is EPIC 201615463 c habitable?
EPIC 201615463 c is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of K2-166, and as a terrestrial planet it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is EPIC 201615463 c?
EPIC 201615463 c is about 1,555 light-years from Earth in the constellation Virgo. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 27,375,040 years to get there.
How big is EPIC 201615463 c compared to Earth?
EPIC 201615463 c has 1.22 times the radius of Earth.
How long is a year on EPIC 201615463 c?
One orbit around K2-166 takes 3.8 Earth days — short enough that 96 of its years would fit into one Earth year.
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