K2-286 b
K2-286 b is a mini-Neptune orbiting the M0 V star K2-286 in the constellation Libra. It lies about 248 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2018 using the transit method.
How Big Is K2-286 b?
K2-286 b has a radius of 2.10 times that of Earth.
Is K2-286 b in the Habitable Zone?
K2-286 b orbits inside the inner edge of the habitable zone of K2-286. So close to its star, surface conditions are far too hot for liquid water.
Habitable zone of K2-286: 0.244–0.619 AU (conservative: 0.309–0.587 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 K2-286 b
The equilibrium temperature of K2-286 b is about 347 K (74 °C) — hotter than anywhere on Earth. 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 K2-286 b — one full orbit around K2-286 — lasts 27.4 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year. It orbits at an average distance of 0.177 AU — closer to its star than Mercury is to the Sun.
How Was K2-286 b Discovered?
K2-286 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 K2-286 b?
K2-286 b is 248.4 light-years (76.1 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet around the year 1778. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 4,371,840 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. K2-286 b scores 0.58, ranking #162 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: K2-286
K2-286
- Spectral type
- M0 V
- Surface temperature
- 3,926 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 0.64 M☉
- Radius
- 0.62 R☉
- Luminosity
- 0.0900 L☉
Planetary System
K2-286 b is the only planet known to orbit K2-286 so far.
K2-286 b — Complete Data
| Radius | 2.100 Earth radii (0.187 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 27.36 days |
| Orbital distance | 0.177 AU |
| Equilibrium temperature | 347 K (74 °C) |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.58 |
| Distance from Earth | 248.4 light-years (76.1 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Libra |
| Discovery method | Transit |
| Discovery facility | K2 |
| Discovery year | 2018 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2019-01-03. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About K2-286 b
Is K2-286 b habitable?
No — K2-286 b orbits too close to its star and is too hot for liquid water to exist on its surface.
How far away is K2-286 b?
K2-286 b is about 248 light-years from Earth in the constellation Libra. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 4,371,840 years to get there.
How big is K2-286 b compared to Earth?
K2-286 b has 2.10 times the radius of Earth.
How long is a year on K2-286 b?
One orbit around K2-286 takes 27.4 Earth days — short enough that 13 of its years would fit into one Earth year.
Explore K2-286 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.
