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Kepler-1122 b

Mini Neptune Lyra

Kepler-1122 b is a mini-Neptune orbiting Kepler-1122 in the constellation Lyra. It lies about 4,013 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2016 using the transit method.

2.04×Earth radius
42 dOrbital period
0.31Earth similarity
4,013 lyDistance
2016Discovered

How Big Is Kepler-1122 b?

Earth1.00 R⊕Kepler-1122 b2.04 R⊕
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Kepler-1122 b has a radius of 2.04 times that of Earth.

Is Kepler-1122 b in the Habitable Zone?

The position of Kepler-1122 b relative to the habitable zone of Kepler-1122 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.

Too hot Optimistic habitable zone Conservative habitable zone Too cold

Habitable zone of Kepler-1122: 0.623–1.479 AU (conservative: 0.790–1.402 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-1122 b — one full orbit around Kepler-1122 — lasts 42.2 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year.

How Was Kepler-1122 b Discovered?

Kepler-1122 b was discovered in 2016 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-1122 b?

Kepler-1122 b is 4,013.1 light-years (1,230.4 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet about 4,013 years ago. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 70,630,560 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-1122 b scores 0.31, ranking #1,120 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.

The Host Star: Kepler-1122

Kepler-1122

Surface temperature
5,544 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
Mass
0.92 M☉
Radius
0.89 R☉
Age
4.7 billion years (Sun: 4.6)

Planetary System

Kepler-1122 b is the only planet known to orbit Kepler-1122 so far.

Kepler-1122 b — Complete Data

Radius2.040 Earth radii (0.182 Jupiter radii)
Orbital period42.19 days
Earth Similarity Index0.31
Distance from Earth4,013.1 light-years (1,230.4 parsecs)
ConstellationLyra
Discovery methodTransit
Discovery facilityKepler
Discovery year2016

Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2016-05-06. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.

Frequently Asked Questions About Kepler-1122 b

Is Kepler-1122 b habitable?

Kepler-1122 b is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of Kepler-1122, and as a mini-Neptune it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.

How far away is Kepler-1122 b?

Kepler-1122 b is about 4,013 light-years from Earth in the constellation Lyra. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 70,630,560 years to get there.

How big is Kepler-1122 b compared to Earth?

Kepler-1122 b has 2.04 times the radius of Earth.

How long is a year on Kepler-1122 b?

One orbit around Kepler-1122 takes 42.2 Earth days.

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