K2-114 b
K2-114 b is a cold gas giant orbiting K2-114 in the constellation Cancer. It lies about 1,552 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2017 using the transit method.
How Big Is K2-114 b?
K2-114 b has a radius of 10.59 times that of Earth, or 0.95 times the radius of Jupiter. Its mass is 639 times that of Earth, giving it a density of 2.96 g/cm³ — between that of rocky and gaseous planets.
Is K2-114 b in the Habitable Zone?
K2-114 b orbits inside the inner edge of the habitable zone of K2-114. So close to its star, surface conditions are far too hot for liquid water.
Habitable zone of K2-114: 0.472–1.146 AU (conservative: 0.598–1.087 AU), per Kopparapu et al. (2014). Earth orbits the Sun at 1 AU.
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Temperature on K2-114 b
The equilibrium temperature of K2-114 b is about 701 K (428 °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 K2-114 b — one full orbit around K2-114 — lasts 11.4 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year. It orbits at an average distance of 0.094 AU — closer to its star than Mercury is to the Sun. Its orbit is mildly elliptical (eccentricity 0.08).
How Was K2-114 b Discovered?
K2-114 b was discovered in 2017 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 K2-114 b?
K2-114 b is 1,551.7 light-years (475.8 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet about 1,552 years ago. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 27,309,920 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. K2-114 b scores 0.11, ranking #4,382 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: K2-114
K2-114
- Surface temperature
- 4,899 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 0.86 M☉
- Radius
- 0.83 R☉
- Luminosity
- 0.3600 L☉
- Age
- 7.6 billion years (Sun: 4.6)
Planetary System
K2-114 b is the only planet known to orbit K2-114 so far.
K2-114 b — Complete Data
| Radius | 10.592 Earth radii (0.945 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Mass | 638.84 Earth masses (2.010 Jupiter masses) |
| Density | 2.96 g/cm³ (Earth: 5.51) |
| Orbital period | 11.39 days |
| Orbital distance | 0.094 AU |
| Eccentricity | 0.079 |
| Equilibrium temperature | 701 K (428 °C) |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.11 |
| Distance from Earth | 1,551.7 light-years (475.8 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Cancer |
| Discovery method | Transit |
| Discovery facility | K2 |
| Discovery year | 2017 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2024-11-20. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About K2-114 b
Is K2-114 b habitable?
No — K2-114 b orbits too close to its star and is too hot for liquid water to exist on its surface.
How far away is K2-114 b?
K2-114 b is about 1,552 light-years from Earth in the constellation Cancer. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 27,309,920 years to get there.
How big is K2-114 b compared to Earth?
K2-114 b has 10.59 times the radius of Earth and about 639 times its mass.
How long is a year on K2-114 b?
One orbit around K2-114 takes 11.4 Earth days — short enough that 32 of its years would fit into one Earth year.
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