K2-295 b
K2-295 b is a hot Jupiter orbiting the K5 V star K2-295 in the constellation Pisces. It lies about 759 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2018 using the transit method.
How Big Is K2-295 b?
K2-295 b has a radius of 10.05 times that of Earth, or 0.90 times the radius of Jupiter. Its mass is 106 times that of Earth, giving it a density of 0.61 g/cm³ — closer to gas planets like Jupiter (1.33 g/cm³).
Is K2-295 b in the Habitable Zone?
K2-295 b orbits inside the inner edge of the habitable zone of K2-295. So close to its star, surface conditions are far too hot for liquid water.
Habitable zone of K2-295: 0.332–0.822 AU (conservative: 0.420–0.779 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 K2-295 b
The equilibrium temperature of K2-295 b is about 852 K (579 °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 K2-295 b — one full orbit around K2-295 — lasts 4.02 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year. It orbits at an average distance of 0.045 AU — closer to its star than Mercury is to the Sun.
How Was K2-295 b Discovered?
K2-295 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 K2-295 b?
K2-295 b is 759.3 light-years (232.8 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet around the year 1267. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 13,363,680 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. K2-295 b scores 0.10, ranking #4,454 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: K2-295
K2-295
- Spectral type
- K5 V
- Surface temperature
- 4,444 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 0.74 M☉
- Radius
- 0.70 R☉
Planetary System
K2-295 b is the only planet known to orbit K2-295 so far.
K2-295 b — Complete Data
| Radius | 10.054 Earth radii (0.897 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Mass | 106.47 Earth masses (0.335 Jupiter masses) |
| Density | 0.61 g/cm³ (Earth: 5.51) |
| Orbital period | 4.02 days |
| Orbital distance | 0.045 AU |
| Equilibrium temperature | 852 K (579 °C) |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.10 |
| Distance from Earth | 759.3 light-years (232.8 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Pisces |
| Discovery method | Transit |
| Discovery facility | K2 |
| Discovery year | 2018 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2019-05-20. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About K2-295 b
Is K2-295 b habitable?
No — K2-295 b orbits too close to its star and is too hot for liquid water to exist on its surface.
How far away is K2-295 b?
K2-295 b is about 759 light-years from Earth in the constellation Pisces. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 13,363,680 years to get there.
How big is K2-295 b compared to Earth?
K2-295 b has 10.05 times the radius of Earth and about 106 times its mass.
How long is a year on K2-295 b?
One orbit around K2-295 takes 4.0 Earth days — short enough that 91 of its years would fit into one Earth year.