Kepler-1226 b
Kepler-1226 b is a super-Earth orbiting Kepler-1226 in the constellation Cygnus. It lies about 3,672 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2016 using the transit method.
How Big Is Kepler-1226 b?
Kepler-1226 b has a radius of 1.45 times that of Earth.
Is Kepler-1226 b in the Habitable Zone?
The position of Kepler-1226 b relative to the habitable zone of Kepler-1226 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Habitable zone of Kepler-1226: 0.797–1.872 AU (conservative: 1.010–1.774 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-1226 b — one full orbit around Kepler-1226 — lasts 17.3 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year.
How Was Kepler-1226 b Discovered?
Kepler-1226 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-1226 b?
Kepler-1226 b is 3,671.6 light-years (1,125.7 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet about 3,672 years ago. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 64,620,160 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-1226 b scores 0.29, ranking #1,723 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: Kepler-1226
Kepler-1226
- Surface temperature
- 5,923 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 1.02 M☉
- Radius
- 1.02 R☉
- Age
- 3.7 billion years (Sun: 4.6)
Planetary System
Kepler-1226 b is the only planet known to orbit Kepler-1226 so far.
Kepler-1226 b — Complete Data
| Radius | 1.450 Earth radii (0.129 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 17.29 days |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.29 |
| Distance from Earth | 3,671.6 light-years (1,125.7 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Cygnus |
| Discovery method | Transit |
| Discovery facility | Kepler |
| Discovery year | 2016 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2016-05-06. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About Kepler-1226 b
Is Kepler-1226 b habitable?
Kepler-1226 b is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of Kepler-1226, and as a super-Earth it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is Kepler-1226 b?
Kepler-1226 b is about 3,672 light-years from Earth in the constellation Cygnus. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 64,620,160 years to get there.
How big is Kepler-1226 b compared to Earth?
Kepler-1226 b has 1.45 times the radius of Earth.
How long is a year on Kepler-1226 b?
One orbit around Kepler-1226 takes 17.3 Earth days — short enough that 21 of its years would fit into one Earth year.
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