K2-104 b
K2-104 b is a super-Earth orbiting K2-104 in the constellation Cancer. It lies about 617 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2016 using the transit method.
How Big Is K2-104 b?
K2-104 b has a radius of 1.79 times that of Earth.
Is K2-104 b in the Habitable Zone?
K2-104 b orbits inside the inner edge of the habitable zone of K2-104. So close to its star, surface conditions are far too hot for liquid water.
Habitable zone of K2-104: 0.162–0.415 AU (conservative: 0.205–0.393 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 ›
Temperature on K2-104 b
The equilibrium temperature of K2-104 b is about 798 K (525 °C) — hot enough to melt many metals. This estimate ignores any atmosphere, which could change surface temperatures dramatically — Earth's greenhouse effect adds about 33 °C.
Orbit and Year Length
A year on K2-104 b — one full orbit around K2-104 — lasts just 47.4 hours, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year. It orbits at an average distance of 0.024 AU — closer to its star than Mercury is to the Sun.
How Was K2-104 b Discovered?
K2-104 b was discovered in 2016 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 K2-104 b?
K2-104 b is 617.4 light-years (189.3 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet around the year 1409. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 10,866,240 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. K2-104 b scores 0.29, ranking #2,022 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: K2-104
K2-104
- Surface temperature
- 3,712 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 0.51 M☉
- Radius
- 0.48 R☉
Planetary System
K2-104 b is the only planet known to orbit K2-104 so far.
K2-104 b — Complete Data
| Radius | 1.790 Earth radii (0.160 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 1.97 days |
| Orbital distance | 0.024 AU |
| Equilibrium temperature | 798 K (525 °C) |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.29 |
| Distance from Earth | 617.4 light-years (189.3 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Cancer |
| Discovery method | Transit |
| Discovery facility | K2 |
| Discovery year | 2016 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2021-09-20. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About K2-104 b
Is K2-104 b habitable?
No — K2-104 b orbits too close to its star and is too hot for liquid water to exist on its surface.
How far away is K2-104 b?
K2-104 b is about 617 light-years from Earth in the constellation Cancer. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 10,866,240 years to get there.
How big is K2-104 b compared to Earth?
K2-104 b has 1.79 times the radius of Earth.
How long is a year on K2-104 b?
One orbit around K2-104 takes 2.0 Earth days — short enough that 185 of its years would fit into one Earth year.
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