K2-343 b
K2-343 b is a super-Earth orbiting K2-343 in the constellation Cancer. It lies about 542 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2021 using the transit method.
How Big Is K2-343 b?
K2-343 b has a radius of 1.65 times that of Earth.
Is K2-343 b in the Habitable Zone?
The position of K2-343 b relative to the habitable zone of K2-343 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Habitable zone of K2-343: 0.162–0.415 AU (conservative: 0.206–0.393 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 K2-343 b
The equilibrium temperature of K2-343 b is about 653 K (380 °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 K2-343 b — one full orbit around K2-343 — lasts 2.79 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year.
How Was K2-343 b Discovered?
K2-343 b was discovered in 2021 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 K2-343 b?
K2-343 b is 542.0 light-years (166.2 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet around the year 1484. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 9,539,200 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. K2-343 b scores 0.31, ranking #1,223 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: K2-343
K2-343
- Surface temperature
- 3,804 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 0.49 M☉
- Radius
- 0.46 R☉
The K2-343 Planetary System
K2-343 b is one of 2 known planets in the K2-343 system. Its siblings:
- K2-343 c (Mini Neptune)
K2-343 b — Complete Data
| Radius | 1.650 Earth radii (0.147 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 2.79 days |
| Equilibrium temperature | 653 K (380 °C) |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.31 |
| Distance from Earth | 542.0 light-years (166.2 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Cancer |
| Discovery method | Transit |
| Discovery facility | K2 |
| Discovery year | 2021 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2021-08-23. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About K2-343 b
Is K2-343 b habitable?
K2-343 b is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of K2-343, and as a super-Earth it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is K2-343 b?
K2-343 b is about 542 light-years from Earth in the constellation Cancer. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 9,539,200 years to get there.
How big is K2-343 b compared to Earth?
K2-343 b has 1.65 times the radius of Earth.
How long is a year on K2-343 b?
One orbit around K2-343 takes 2.8 Earth days — short enough that 131 of its years would fit into one Earth year.
Explore K2-343 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.
