K2-72 e
K2-72 e is a super-Earth orbiting K2-72 in the constellation Aquarius. It lies about 217 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2016 using the transit method. It orbits within the habitable zone of its star — the region where liquid water could exist on a planet's surface.
How Big Is K2-72 e?
K2-72 e has a radius of 1.29 times that of Earth.
Is K2-72 e in the Habitable Zone?
K2-72 e orbits within the optimistic habitable zone of K2-72 — the broader region where liquid water might be possible under favorable atmospheric conditions.
Habitable zone of K2-72: 0.092–0.240 AU (conservative: 0.116–0.227 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 K2-72 e
K2-72 e receives 1.20 times the stellar energy that Earth gets from the Sun.
Orbit and Year Length
A year on K2-72 e — one full orbit around K2-72 — lasts 24.2 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year. It orbits at an average distance of 0.106 AU — closer to its star than Mercury is to the Sun. Its orbit is mildly elliptical (eccentricity 0.11).
How Was K2-72 e Discovered?
K2-72 e 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 K2-72 e?
K2-72 e is 216.7 light-years (66.4 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet around the year 1810. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 3,813,920 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. K2-72 e scores 0.87, ranking #7 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: K2-72
K2-72
- Surface temperature
- 3,360 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 0.27 M☉
- Radius
- 0.33 R☉
The K2-72 Planetary System
K2-72 e is one of 4 known planets in the K2-72 system. Its siblings:
K2-72 e — Complete Data
| Radius | 1.290 Earth radii (0.115 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 24.16 days |
| Orbital distance | 0.106 AU |
| Eccentricity | 0.110 |
| Stellar irradiation | 1.20× Earth |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.87 |
| Distance from Earth | 216.7 light-years (66.4 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Aquarius |
| Discovery method | Transit |
| Discovery facility | K2 |
| Discovery year | 2016 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2017-12-12. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About K2-72 e
Is K2-72 e habitable?
K2-72 e orbits within the habitable zone of K2-72, the region where liquid water could exist on a planet's surface. Whether it is actually habitable depends on its atmosphere and composition, which remain unknown.
How far away is K2-72 e?
K2-72 e is about 217 light-years from Earth in the constellation Aquarius. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 3,813,920 years to get there.
How big is K2-72 e compared to Earth?
K2-72 e has 1.29 times the radius of Earth.
How long is a year on K2-72 e?
One orbit around K2-72 takes 24.2 Earth days — short enough that 15 of its years would fit into one Earth year.
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