KELT-16 b
KELT-16 b is a hot Jupiter orbiting the F7 V star KELT-16 in the constellation Cygnus. It lies about 1,450 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2017 using the transit method.
How Big Is KELT-16 b?
KELT-16 b has a radius of 15.86 times that of Earth, or 1.42 times the radius of Jupiter. Its mass is 874 times that of Earth, giving it a density of 1.20 g/cm³ — closer to gas planets like Jupiter (1.33 g/cm³).
Is KELT-16 b in the Habitable Zone?
KELT-16 b orbits inside the inner edge of the habitable zone of KELT-16. So close to its star, surface conditions are far too hot for liquid water.
Habitable zone of KELT-16: 1.159–2.701 AU (conservative: 1.468–2.561 AU), per Kopparapu et al. (2014). Earth orbits the Sun at 1 AU.
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Temperature on KELT-16 b
The equilibrium temperature of KELT-16 b is about 2,453 K (2,180 °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 KELT-16 b — one full orbit around KELT-16 — lasts just 23.3 hours, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year. It orbits at an average distance of 0.020 AU — closer to its star than Mercury is to the Sun.
How Was KELT-16 b Discovered?
KELT-16 b was discovered in 2017 using the transit method, with observations from KELT.
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 KELT-16 b?
KELT-16 b is 1,450.0 light-years (444.6 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet about 1,450 years ago. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 25,520,000 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. KELT-16 b scores 0.06, ranking #5,196 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: KELT-16
KELT-16 b belongs to a system of 2 stars; it orbits KELT-16.
KELT-16
- Spectral type
- F7 V
- Surface temperature
- 6,236 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 1.21 M☉
- Radius
- 1.36 R☉
- Luminosity
- 2.5200 L☉
- Age
- 3.1 billion years (Sun: 4.6)
Planetary System
KELT-16 b is the only planet known to orbit KELT-16 so far.
KELT-16 b — Complete Data
| Radius | 15.861 Earth radii (1.415 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Mass | 874.03 Earth masses (2.750 Jupiter masses) |
| Density | 1.20 g/cm³ (Earth: 5.51) |
| Orbital period | 0.97 days |
| Orbital distance | 0.020 AU |
| Equilibrium temperature | 2,453 K (2,180 °C) |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.06 |
| Distance from Earth | 1,450.0 light-years (444.6 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Cygnus |
| Discovery method | Transit |
| Discovery facility | KELT |
| Discovery year | 2017 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2017-02-08. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About KELT-16 b
Is KELT-16 b habitable?
No — KELT-16 b orbits too close to its star and is too hot for liquid water to exist on its surface.
How far away is KELT-16 b?
KELT-16 b is about 1,450 light-years from Earth in the constellation Cygnus. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 25,520,000 years to get there.
How big is KELT-16 b compared to Earth?
KELT-16 b has 15.86 times the radius of Earth and about 874 times its mass.
How long is a year on KELT-16 b?
One orbit around KELT-16 takes 1.0 Earth days — short enough that 377 of its years would fit into one Earth year.
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