K2-292 b
K2-292 b is a super-Earth orbiting the G3 V star K2-292 in the constellation Virgo. It lies about 373 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2019 using the transit method.
How Big Is K2-292 b?
K2-292 b has a radius of 2.63 times that of Earth. Its mass is 24.5 times that of Earth, giving it a density of 7.40 g/cm³ — comparable to rocky planets like Earth (5.51 g/cm³).
Is K2-292 b in the Habitable Zone?
K2-292 b orbits inside the inner edge of the habitable zone of K2-292. So close to its star, surface conditions are far too hot for liquid water.
Habitable zone of K2-292: 0.806–1.901 AU (conservative: 1.020–1.802 AU), per Kopparapu et al. (2014). Earth orbits the Sun at 1 AU.
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Temperature on K2-292 b
The equilibrium temperature of K2-292 b is about 795 K (522 °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 67.00 times the stellar energy that Earth gets from the Sun.
Orbit and Year Length
A year on K2-292 b — one full orbit around K2-292 — lasts 17.0 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year. It orbits at an average distance of 0.130 AU — closer to its star than Mercury is to the Sun. Its orbit is nearly circular (eccentricity 0.040).
How Was K2-292 b Discovered?
K2-292 b was discovered in 2019 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 K2-292 b?
K2-292 b is 372.8 light-years (114.3 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet around the year 1654. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 6,561,280 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. K2-292 b scores 0.24, ranking #3,271 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: K2-292
K2-292
- Spectral type
- G3 V
- Surface temperature
- 5,725 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 1.00 M☉
- Radius
- 1.09 R☉
- Age
- 6.8 billion years (Sun: 4.6)
Planetary System
K2-292 b is the only planet known to orbit K2-292 so far.
K2-292 b — Complete Data
| Radius | 2.630 Earth radii (0.235 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Mass | 24.50 Earth masses (0.077 Jupiter masses) |
| Density | 7.40 g/cm³ (Earth: 5.51) |
| Orbital period | 16.98 days |
| Orbital distance | 0.130 AU |
| Eccentricity | 0.040 |
| Equilibrium temperature | 795 K (522 °C) |
| Stellar irradiation | 67.00× Earth |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.24 |
| Distance from Earth | 372.8 light-years (114.3 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Virgo |
| Discovery method | Transit |
| Discovery facility | K2 |
| Discovery year | 2019 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2019-02-05. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About K2-292 b
Is K2-292 b habitable?
No — K2-292 b orbits too close to its star and is too hot for liquid water to exist on its surface.
How far away is K2-292 b?
K2-292 b is about 373 light-years from Earth in the constellation Virgo. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 6,561,280 years to get there.
How big is K2-292 b compared to Earth?
K2-292 b has 2.63 times the radius of Earth and about 24.5 times its mass.
How long is a year on K2-292 b?
One orbit around K2-292 takes 17.0 Earth days — short enough that 22 of its years would fit into one Earth year.
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