K2-412 b
K2-412 b is a mini-Neptune orbiting K2-412 in the constellation Taurus. It lies about 2,133 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2022 using the transit method.
How Big Is K2-412 b?
K2-412 b has a radius of 2.12 times that of Earth.
Is K2-412 b in the Habitable Zone?
K2-412 b orbits inside the inner edge of the habitable zone of K2-412. So close to its star, surface conditions are far too hot for liquid water.
Habitable zone of K2-412: 0.694–1.644 AU (conservative: 0.879–1.558 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 K2-412 b
K2-412 b receives 244 times the stellar energy that Earth gets from the Sun.
Orbit and Year Length
A year on K2-412 b — one full orbit around K2-412 — lasts 5.94 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year. It orbits at an average distance of 0.059 AU — closer to its star than Mercury is to the Sun.
How Was K2-412 b Discovered?
K2-412 b was discovered in 2022 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 K2-412 b?
K2-412 b is 2,133.3 light-years (654.1 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet about 2,133 years ago. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 37,546,080 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. K2-412 b scores 0.25, ranking #3,006 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: K2-412
K2-412
- Surface temperature
- 5,590 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 0.89 M☉
- Radius
- 0.98 R☉
Planetary System
K2-412 b is the only planet known to orbit K2-412 so far.
K2-412 b — Complete Data
| Radius | 2.116 Earth radii (0.189 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 5.94 days |
| Orbital distance | 0.059 AU |
| Stellar irradiation | 243.52× Earth |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.25 |
| Distance from Earth | 2,133.3 light-years (654.1 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Taurus |
| Discovery method | Transit |
| Discovery facility | K2 |
| Discovery year | 2022 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2022-11-07. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About K2-412 b
Is K2-412 b habitable?
No — K2-412 b orbits too close to its star and is too hot for liquid water to exist on its surface.
How far away is K2-412 b?
K2-412 b is about 2,133 light-years from Earth in the constellation Taurus. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 37,546,080 years to get there.
How big is K2-412 b compared to Earth?
K2-412 b has 2.12 times the radius of Earth.
How long is a year on K2-412 b?
One orbit around K2-412 takes 5.9 Earth days — short enough that 62 of its years would fit into one Earth year.