K2-260 b
K2-260 b is a hot Jupiter orbiting K2-260 in the constellation Taurus. It lies about 2,165 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2018 using the transit method.
How Big Is K2-260 b?
K2-260 b has a radius of 18.42 times that of Earth, or 1.64 times the radius of Jupiter. Its mass is 547 times that of Earth, giving it a density of 0.48 g/cm³ — closer to gas planets like Jupiter (1.33 g/cm³).
Is K2-260 b in the Habitable Zone?
K2-260 b orbits inside the inner edge of the habitable zone of K2-260. So close to its star, surface conditions are far too hot for liquid water.
Habitable zone of K2-260: 1.746–4.034 AU (conservative: 2.211–3.824 AU), per Kopparapu et al. (2014). Earth orbits the Sun at 1 AU.
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Temperature on K2-260 b
The equilibrium temperature of K2-260 b is about 2,090 K (1,817 °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 K2-260 b — one full orbit around K2-260 — lasts 2.63 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year. It orbits at an average distance of 0.044 AU — closer to its star than Mercury is to the Sun. Its orbit is mildly elliptical (eccentricity 0.05).
How Was K2-260 b Discovered?
K2-260 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 K2-260 b?
K2-260 b is 2,165.1 light-years (663.8 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet about 2,165 years ago. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 38,105,760 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. K2-260 b scores 0.05, ranking #5,249 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: K2-260
K2-260
- Surface temperature
- 6,860 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 1.64 M☉
- Radius
- 1.76 R☉
- Luminosity
- 6.1400 L☉
- Age
- 0.7 billion years (Sun: 4.6)
Planetary System
K2-260 b is the only planet known to orbit K2-260 so far.
K2-260 b — Complete Data
| Radius | 18.416 Earth radii (1.643 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Mass | 546.66 Earth masses (1.720 Jupiter masses) |
| Density | 0.48 g/cm³ (Earth: 5.51) |
| Orbital period | 2.63 days |
| Orbital distance | 0.044 AU |
| Eccentricity | 0.053 |
| Equilibrium temperature | 2,090 K (1,817 °C) |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.05 |
| Distance from Earth | 2,165.1 light-years (663.8 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Taurus |
| Discovery method | Transit |
| Discovery facility | K2 |
| Discovery year | 2018 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2024-11-20. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About K2-260 b
Is K2-260 b habitable?
No — K2-260 b orbits too close to its star and is too hot for liquid water to exist on its surface.
How far away is K2-260 b?
K2-260 b is about 2,165 light-years from Earth in the constellation Taurus. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 38,105,760 years to get there.
How big is K2-260 b compared to Earth?
K2-260 b has 18.42 times the radius of Earth and about 547 times its mass.
How long is a year on K2-260 b?
One orbit around K2-260 takes 2.6 Earth days — short enough that 139 of its years would fit into one Earth year.
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