K2-205 b
K2-205 b is a super-Earth orbiting K2-205 in the constellation Cetus. It lies about 1,322 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2018 using the transit method.
How Big Is K2-205 b?
K2-205 b has a radius of 2.00 times that of Earth.
Is K2-205 b in the Habitable Zone?
The position of K2-205 b relative to the habitable zone of K2-205 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Habitable zone of K2-205: 0.835–1.961 AU (conservative: 1.057–1.859 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 K2-205 b — one full orbit around K2-205 — lasts 26.7 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year.
How Was K2-205 b Discovered?
K2-205 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 K2-205 b?
K2-205 b is 1,321.9 light-years (405.3 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet about 1,322 years ago. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 23,265,440 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. K2-205 b scores 0.28, ranking #2,265 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: K2-205
K2-205
- Surface temperature
- 5,890 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 0.95 M☉
- Radius
- 1.08 R☉
Planetary System
K2-205 b is the only planet known to orbit K2-205 so far.
K2-205 b — Complete Data
| Radius | 1.996 Earth radii (0.178 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 26.67 days |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.28 |
| Distance from Earth | 1,321.9 light-years (405.3 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Cetus |
| 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 K2-205 b
Is K2-205 b habitable?
K2-205 b is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of K2-205, and as a super-Earth it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is K2-205 b?
K2-205 b is about 1,322 light-years from Earth in the constellation Cetus. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 23,265,440 years to get there.
How big is K2-205 b compared to Earth?
K2-205 b has 2.00 times the radius of Earth.
How long is a year on K2-205 b?
One orbit around K2-205 takes 26.7 Earth days — short enough that 14 of its years would fit into one Earth year.
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