K2-329 b
K2-329 b is a cold gas giant orbiting K2-329 in the constellation Aquarius. It lies about 761 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2020 using the transit method.
How Big Is K2-329 b?
K2-329 b has a radius of 8.68 times that of Earth, or 0.77 times the radius of Jupiter. Its mass is 82.6 times that of Earth, giving it a density of 0.69 g/cm³ — closer to gas planets like Jupiter (1.33 g/cm³).
Is K2-329 b in the Habitable Zone?
K2-329 b orbits inside the inner edge of the habitable zone of K2-329. So close to its star, surface conditions are far too hot for liquid water.
Habitable zone of K2-329: 0.531–1.270 AU (conservative: 0.673–1.204 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 K2-329 b
The equilibrium temperature of K2-329 b is about 650 K (377 °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 45.70 times the stellar energy that Earth gets from the Sun.
Orbit and Year Length
A year on K2-329 b — one full orbit around K2-329 — lasts 12.5 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year. It orbits at an average distance of 0.102 AU — closer to its star than Mercury is to the Sun. Its orbit is mildly elliptical (eccentricity 0.07).
How Was K2-329 b Discovered?
K2-329 b was discovered in 2020 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 K2-329 b?
K2-329 b is 760.7 light-years (233.2 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet around the year 1266. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 13,388,320 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. K2-329 b scores 0.12, ranking #4,327 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: K2-329
K2-329
- Surface temperature
- 5,282 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 0.90 M☉
- Radius
- 0.82 R☉
- Luminosity
- 0.4730 L☉
- Age
- 1.8 billion years (Sun: 4.6)
Planetary System
K2-329 b is the only planet known to orbit K2-329 so far.
K2-329 b — Complete Data
| Radius | 8.676 Earth radii (0.774 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Mass | 82.64 Earth masses (0.260 Jupiter masses) |
| Density | 0.69 g/cm³ (Earth: 5.51) |
| Orbital period | 12.46 days |
| Orbital distance | 0.102 AU |
| Eccentricity | 0.070 |
| Equilibrium temperature | 650 K (377 °C) |
| Stellar irradiation | 45.70× Earth |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.12 |
| Distance from Earth | 760.7 light-years (233.2 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Aquarius |
| Discovery method | Transit |
| Discovery facility | K2 |
| Discovery year | 2020 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2020-11-13. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About K2-329 b
Is K2-329 b habitable?
No — K2-329 b orbits too close to its star and is too hot for liquid water to exist on its surface.
How far away is K2-329 b?
K2-329 b is about 761 light-years from Earth in the constellation Aquarius. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 13,388,320 years to get there.
How big is K2-329 b compared to Earth?
K2-329 b has 8.68 times the radius of Earth and about 82.6 times its mass.
How long is a year on K2-329 b?
One orbit around K2-329 takes 12.5 Earth days — short enough that 29 of its years would fit into one Earth year.