K2-280 b
K2-280 b is a cold gas giant orbiting K2-280 in the constellation Sagittarius. It lies about 1,277 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2018 using the transit method.
How Big Is K2-280 b?
K2-280 b has a radius of 7.50 times that of Earth, or 0.67 times the radius of Jupiter. Its mass is 37.1 times that of Earth, giving it a density of 0.48 g/cm³ — closer to gas planets like Jupiter (1.33 g/cm³).
Is K2-280 b in the Habitable Zone?
K2-280 b orbits inside the inner edge of the habitable zone of K2-280. So close to its star, surface conditions are far too hot for liquid water.
Habitable zone of K2-280: 0.885–2.101 AU (conservative: 1.121–1.992 AU), per Kopparapu et al. (2014). Earth orbits the Sun at 1 AU.
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Temperature on K2-280 b
The equilibrium temperature of K2-280 b is about 787 K (514 °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 K2-280 b — one full orbit around K2-280 — lasts 19.9 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year. It orbits at an average distance of 0.146 AU — closer to its star than Mercury is to the Sun. Its orbit is highly elliptical (eccentricity 0.35), swinging dramatically closer to and farther from its star.
How Was K2-280 b Discovered?
K2-280 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 K2-280 b?
K2-280 b is 1,277.0 light-years (391.5 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet about 1,277 years ago. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 22,475,200 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. K2-280 b scores 0.13, ranking #4,307 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: K2-280
K2-280
- Surface temperature
- 5,500 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 1.03 M☉
- Radius
- 1.28 R☉
- Age
- 9.0 billion years (Sun: 4.6)
Planetary System
K2-280 b is the only planet known to orbit K2-280 so far.
K2-280 b — Complete Data
| Radius | 7.500 Earth radii (0.669 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Mass | 37.10 Earth masses (0.117 Jupiter masses) |
| Density | 0.48 g/cm³ (Earth: 5.51) |
| Orbital period | 19.90 days |
| Orbital distance | 0.146 AU |
| Eccentricity | 0.350 |
| Equilibrium temperature | 787 K (514 °C) |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.13 |
| Distance from Earth | 1,277.0 light-years (391.5 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Sagittarius |
| Discovery method | Transit |
| Discovery facility | K2 |
| Discovery year | 2018 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2021-07-12. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About K2-280 b
Is K2-280 b habitable?
No — K2-280 b orbits too close to its star and is too hot for liquid water to exist on its surface.
How far away is K2-280 b?
K2-280 b is about 1,277 light-years from Earth in the constellation Sagittarius. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 22,475,200 years to get there.
How big is K2-280 b compared to Earth?
K2-280 b has 7.50 times the radius of Earth and about 37.1 times its mass.
How long is a year on K2-280 b?
One orbit around K2-280 takes 19.9 Earth days — short enough that 18 of its years would fit into one Earth year.
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