K2-141 b
K2-141 b is a lava world orbiting K2-141 in the constellation Pisces. It lies about 202 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2018 using the transit method.
How Big Is K2-141 b?
K2-141 b has a radius of 1.51 times that of Earth. Its mass is 5.0 times that of Earth, giving it a density of 7.93 g/cm³ — comparable to rocky planets like Earth (5.51 g/cm³).
Is K2-141 b in the Habitable Zone?
K2-141 b orbits inside the inner edge of the habitable zone of K2-141. So close to its star, surface conditions are far too hot for liquid water.
Habitable zone of K2-141: 0.340–0.837 AU (conservative: 0.430–0.793 AU), per Kopparapu et al. (2014). Earth orbits the Sun at 1 AU.
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Temperature on K2-141 b
The equilibrium temperature of K2-141 b is about 2,103 K (1,830 °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. It receives 3,260 times the stellar energy that Earth gets from the Sun.
Orbit and Year Length
A year on K2-141 b — one full orbit around K2-141 — lasts just 6.7 hours, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year. It orbits at an average distance of 0.007 AU — closer to its star than Mercury is to the Sun.
How Was K2-141 b Discovered?
K2-141 b was discovered in 2018 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 K2-141 b?
K2-141 b is 201.8 light-years (61.9 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet around the year 1825. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 3,551,680 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. K2-141 b scores 0.28, ranking #2,288 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: K2-141
K2-141
- Surface temperature
- 4,570 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 0.71 M☉
- Radius
- 0.68 R☉
- Age
- 6.3 billion years (Sun: 4.6)
The K2-141 Planetary System
K2-141 b is one of 2 known planets in the K2-141 system. Its siblings:
- K2-141 c (Hot Jupiter)
K2-141 b — Complete Data
| Radius | 1.510 Earth radii (0.135 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Mass | 4.97 Earth masses (0.016 Jupiter masses) |
| Density | 7.93 g/cm³ (Earth: 5.51) |
| Orbital period | 0.28 days |
| Orbital distance | 0.007 AU |
| Equilibrium temperature | 2,103 K (1,830 °C) |
| Stellar irradiation | 3,260.00× Earth |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.28 |
| Distance from Earth | 201.8 light-years (61.9 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Pisces |
| Discovery method | Transit |
| Discovery facility | K2 |
| Discovery year | 2018 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2023-04-17. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About K2-141 b
Is K2-141 b habitable?
No — K2-141 b orbits too close to its star and is too hot for liquid water to exist on its surface.
How far away is K2-141 b?
K2-141 b is about 202 light-years from Earth in the constellation Pisces. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 3,551,680 years to get there.
How big is K2-141 b compared to Earth?
K2-141 b has 1.51 times the radius of Earth and about 5.0 times its mass.
How long is a year on K2-141 b?
One orbit around K2-141 takes 0.3 Earth days — short enough that 1,303 of its years would fit into one Earth year.
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