K2-189 b
K2-189 b is a super-Earth orbiting K2-189 in the constellation Virgo. It lies about 790 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2018 using the transit method.
How Big Is K2-189 b?
K2-189 b has a radius of 1.40 times that of Earth.
Is K2-189 b in the Habitable Zone?
The position of K2-189 b relative to the habitable zone of K2-189 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Habitable zone of K2-189: 0.597–1.420 AU (conservative: 0.756–1.346 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 K2-189 b
The equilibrium temperature of K2-189 b is about 1,203 K (930 °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 497 times the stellar energy that Earth gets from the Sun.
Orbit and Year Length
A year on K2-189 b — one full orbit around K2-189 — lasts 2.59 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year.
How Was K2-189 b Discovered?
K2-189 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 K2-189 b?
K2-189 b is 789.7 light-years (242.1 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet around the year 1237. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 13,898,720 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. K2-189 b scores 0.28, ranking #2,213 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: K2-189
K2-189
- Surface temperature
- 5,442 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 0.85 M☉
- Radius
- 0.88 R☉
The K2-189 Planetary System
K2-189 b is one of 2 known planets in the K2-189 system. Its siblings:
- K2-189 c (Mini Neptune)
K2-189 b — Complete Data
| Radius | 1.403 Earth radii (0.125 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 2.59 days |
| Equilibrium temperature | 1,203 K (930 °C) |
| Stellar irradiation | 497.00× Earth |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.28 |
| Distance from Earth | 789.7 light-years (242.1 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Virgo |
| Discovery method | Transit |
| Discovery facility | K2 |
| Discovery year | 2018 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2025-09-17. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About K2-189 b
Is K2-189 b habitable?
K2-189 b is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of K2-189, and as a super-Earth it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is K2-189 b?
K2-189 b is about 790 light-years from Earth in the constellation Virgo. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 13,898,720 years to get there.
How big is K2-189 b compared to Earth?
K2-189 b has 1.40 times the radius of Earth.
How long is a year on K2-189 b?
One orbit around K2-189 takes 2.6 Earth days — short enough that 141 of its years would fit into one Earth year.
Explore K2-189 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.
