K2-161 b
K2-161 b is a hot Jupiter orbiting K2-161 in the constellation Virgo. It lies about 2,989 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2018 using the transit method.
How Big Is K2-161 b?
K2-161 b has a radius of 6.12 times that of Earth, or 0.55 times the radius of Jupiter.
Is K2-161 b in the Habitable Zone?
The position of K2-161 b relative to the habitable zone of K2-161 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Habitable zone of K2-161: 1.491–3.610 AU (conservative: 1.889–3.423 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 K2-161 b — one full orbit around K2-161 — lasts 9.28 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year.
How Was K2-161 b Discovered?
K2-161 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 K2-161 b?
K2-161 b is 2,988.6 light-years (916.3 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet about 2,989 years ago. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 52,599,360 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. K2-161 b scores 0.13, ranking #4,286 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: K2-161
K2-161
- Surface temperature
- 4,972 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 0.99 M☉
- Radius
- 2.57 R☉
Planetary System
K2-161 b is the only planet known to orbit K2-161 so far.
K2-161 b — Complete Data
| Radius | 6.117 Earth radii (0.546 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 9.28 days |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.13 |
| Distance from Earth | 2,988.6 light-years (916.3 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Virgo |
| Discovery method | Transit |
| Discovery facility | K2 |
| Discovery year | 2018 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2018-02-14. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About K2-161 b
Is K2-161 b habitable?
K2-161 b is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of K2-161, and as a hot Jupiter it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is K2-161 b?
K2-161 b is about 2,989 light-years from Earth in the constellation Virgo. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 52,599,360 years to get there.
How big is K2-161 b compared to Earth?
K2-161 b has 6.12 times the radius of Earth.
How long is a year on K2-161 b?
One orbit around K2-161 takes 9.3 Earth days — short enough that 39 of its years would fit into one Earth year.
Explore K2-161 b in the app
Browse, filter and compare 6,000+ exoplanets on iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch — with habitable-zone views, widgets and offline data.
