Kepler-106 b
Kepler-106 b is a terrestrial planet orbiting Kepler-106 in the constellation Cygnus. It lies about 1,449 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2014 using the transit method.
How Big Is Kepler-106 b?
Kepler-106 b has a radius of 0.82 times that of Earth. Its mass is 5.3 times that of Earth.
Is Kepler-106 b in the Habitable Zone?
The position of Kepler-106 b relative to the habitable zone of Kepler-106 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Habitable zone of Kepler-106: 0.798–1.877 AU (conservative: 1.011–1.780 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 ›
Orbit and Year Length
A year on Kepler-106 b — one full orbit around Kepler-106 — lasts 6.16 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year.
How Was Kepler-106 b Discovered?
Kepler-106 b was discovered in 2014 using the transit method, with observations from Kepler.
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 Kepler-106 b?
Kepler-106 b is 1,449.2 light-years (444.3 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet about 1,449 years ago. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 25,505,920 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. Kepler-106 b scores 0.29, ranking #1,595 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: Kepler-106
Kepler-106
- Surface temperature
- 5,858 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 1.00 M☉
- Radius
- 1.04 R☉
- Age
- 4.8 billion years (Sun: 4.6)
The Kepler-106 Planetary System
Kepler-106 b is one of 4 known planets in the Kepler-106 system. Its siblings:
- Kepler-106 c (Super Earth)
- Kepler-106 d (Terrestrial)
- Kepler-106 e (Super Earth)
Kepler-106 b — Complete Data
| Radius | 0.820 Earth radii (0.073 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Mass | 5.30 Earth masses (0.017 Jupiter masses) |
| Orbital period | 6.16 days |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.29 |
| Distance from Earth | 1,449.2 light-years (444.3 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Cygnus |
| Discovery method | Transit |
| Discovery facility | Kepler |
| Discovery year | 2014 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2016-10-12. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About Kepler-106 b
Is Kepler-106 b habitable?
Kepler-106 b is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of Kepler-106, and as a terrestrial planet it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is Kepler-106 b?
Kepler-106 b is about 1,449 light-years from Earth in the constellation Cygnus. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 25,505,920 years to get there.
How big is Kepler-106 b compared to Earth?
Kepler-106 b has 0.82 times the radius of Earth and about 5.3 times its mass.
How long is a year on Kepler-106 b?
One orbit around Kepler-106 takes 6.2 Earth days — short enough that 59 of its years would fit into one Earth year.
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