K2-60 b
K2-60 b is a hot Jupiter orbiting the G4 V star K2-60 in the constellation Aquarius. It lies about 1,604 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2016 using the transit method.
How Big Is K2-60 b?
K2-60 b has a radius of 7.66 times that of Earth, or 0.68 times the radius of Jupiter. Its mass is 135 times that of Earth, giving it a density of 1.70 g/cm³ — closer to gas planets like Jupiter (1.33 g/cm³).
Is K2-60 b in the Habitable Zone?
K2-60 b orbits inside the inner edge of the habitable zone of K2-60. So close to its star, surface conditions are far too hot for liquid water.
Habitable zone of K2-60: 0.774–1.839 AU (conservative: 0.981–1.743 AU), per Kopparapu et al. (2014). Earth orbits the Sun at 1 AU.
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Temperature on K2-60 b
The equilibrium temperature of K2-60 b is about 1,400 K (1,127 °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 K2-60 b — one full orbit around K2-60 — lasts 3.00 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year. It orbits at an average distance of 0.045 AU — closer to its star than Mercury is to the Sun.
How Was K2-60 b Discovered?
K2-60 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 K2-60 b?
K2-60 b is 1,604.3 light-years (491.9 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet about 1,604 years ago. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 28,235,680 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. K2-60 b scores 0.11, ranking #4,383 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: K2-60
K2-60
- Spectral type
- G4 V
- Surface temperature
- 5,500 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 0.97 M☉
- Radius
- 1.12 R☉
- Age
- 10.0 billion years (Sun: 4.6)
Planetary System
K2-60 b is the only planet known to orbit K2-60 so far.
K2-60 b — Complete Data
| Radius | 7.656 Earth radii (0.683 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Mass | 135.40 Earth masses (0.426 Jupiter masses) |
| Density | 1.70 g/cm³ (Earth: 5.51) |
| Orbital period | 3.00 days |
| Orbital distance | 0.045 AU |
| Equilibrium temperature | 1,400 K (1,127 °C) |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.11 |
| Distance from Earth | 1,604.3 light-years (491.9 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Aquarius |
| Discovery method | Transit |
| Discovery facility | K2 |
| Discovery year | 2016 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2017-01-31. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About K2-60 b
Is K2-60 b habitable?
No — K2-60 b orbits too close to its star and is too hot for liquid water to exist on its surface.
How far away is K2-60 b?
K2-60 b is about 1,604 light-years from Earth in the constellation Aquarius. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 28,235,680 years to get there.
How big is K2-60 b compared to Earth?
K2-60 b has 7.66 times the radius of Earth and about 135 times its mass.
How long is a year on K2-60 b?
One orbit around K2-60 takes 3.0 Earth days — short enough that 122 of its years would fit into one Earth year.
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