K2-36 c
K2-36 c is a puffy low-density planet orbiting K2-36 in the constellation Leo. It lies about 358 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2016 using the transit method.
How Big Is K2-36 c?
K2-36 c has a radius of 3.20 times that of Earth. Its mass is 7.9 times that of Earth, giving it a density of 1.30 g/cm³ — closer to gas planets like Jupiter (1.33 g/cm³).
Is K2-36 c in the Habitable Zone?
K2-36 c orbits inside the inner edge of the habitable zone of K2-36. So close to its star, surface conditions are far too hot for liquid water.
Habitable zone of K2-36: 0.409–0.992 AU (conservative: 0.518–0.940 AU), per Kopparapu et al. (2014). Earth orbits the Sun at 1 AU.
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Temperature on K2-36 c
The equilibrium temperature of K2-36 c is about 854 K (581 °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 89.00 times the stellar energy that Earth gets from the Sun.
Orbit and Year Length
A year on K2-36 c — one full orbit around K2-36 — lasts 5.34 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year. It orbits at an average distance of 0.055 AU — closer to its star than Mercury is to the Sun. Its orbit is mildly elliptical (eccentricity 0.09).
How Was K2-36 c Discovered?
K2-36 c was discovered in 2016 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 K2-36 c?
K2-36 c is 358.0 light-years (109.7 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet around the year 1668. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 6,300,800 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. K2-36 c scores 0.22, ranking #3,708 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: K2-36
K2-36
- Surface temperature
- 4,916 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 0.79 M☉
- Radius
- 0.72 R☉
The K2-36 Planetary System
K2-36 c is one of 2 known planets in the K2-36 system. Its siblings:
- K2-36 b (Super Earth)
K2-36 c — Complete Data
| Radius | 3.200 Earth radii (0.285 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Mass | 7.90 Earth masses (0.025 Jupiter masses) |
| Density | 1.30 g/cm³ (Earth: 5.51) |
| Orbital period | 5.34 days |
| Orbital distance | 0.055 AU |
| Eccentricity | 0.089 |
| Equilibrium temperature | 854 K (581 °C) |
| Stellar irradiation | 89.00× Earth |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.22 |
| Distance from Earth | 358.0 light-years (109.7 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Leo |
| Discovery method | Transit |
| Discovery facility | K2 |
| Discovery year | 2016 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2023-04-17. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About K2-36 c
Is K2-36 c habitable?
No — K2-36 c orbits too close to its star and is too hot for liquid water to exist on its surface.
How far away is K2-36 c?
K2-36 c is about 358 light-years from Earth in the constellation Leo. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 6,300,800 years to get there.
How big is K2-36 c compared to Earth?
K2-36 c has 3.20 times the radius of Earth and about 7.9 times its mass.
How long is a year on K2-36 c?
One orbit around K2-36 takes 5.3 Earth days — short enough that 68 of its years would fit into one Earth year.
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