K2-50 b
K2-50 b is a super-Earth orbiting K2-50 in the constellation Leo. It lies about 840 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2016 using the transit method.
How Big Is K2-50 b?
K2-50 b has a radius of 1.59 times that of Earth.
Is K2-50 b in the Habitable Zone?
The position of K2-50 b relative to the habitable zone of K2-50 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Temperature on K2-50 b
K2-50 b receives 18.80 times the stellar energy that Earth gets from the Sun.
Orbit and Year Length
A year on K2-50 b — one full orbit around K2-50 — lasts 8.75 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year. It orbits at an average distance of 0.071 AU — closer to its star than Mercury is to the Sun.
How Was K2-50 b Discovered?
K2-50 b 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 K2-50 b?
K2-50 b is 839.7 light-years (257.4 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet around the year 1187. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 14,778,720 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. K2-50 b scores 0.32, ranking #979 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: K2-50
K2-50
- Mass
- 0.61 M☉
The K2-50 Planetary System
K2-50 b is one of 2 known planets in the K2-50 system. Its siblings:
- EPIC 201833600 c (Terrestrial)
K2-50 b — Complete Data
| Radius | 1.590 Earth radii (0.142 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 8.75 days |
| Orbital distance | 0.071 AU |
| Stellar irradiation | 18.80× Earth |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.32 |
| Distance from Earth | 839.7 light-years (257.4 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Leo |
| Discovery method | Transit |
| Discovery facility | K2 |
| Discovery year | 2016 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2016-07-14. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About K2-50 b
Is K2-50 b habitable?
K2-50 b is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of K2-50, and as a super-Earth it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is K2-50 b?
K2-50 b is about 840 light-years from Earth in the constellation Leo. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 14,778,720 years to get there.
How big is K2-50 b compared to Earth?
K2-50 b has 1.59 times the radius of Earth.
How long is a year on K2-50 b?
One orbit around K2-50 takes 8.8 Earth days — short enough that 42 of its years would fit into one Earth year.
Explore K2-50 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.
