Kepler-1266 c
Kepler-1266 c is a super-Earth orbiting Kepler-1266 in the constellation Lyra. It lies about 2,770 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2021 using the transit method.
How Big Is Kepler-1266 c?
Kepler-1266 c has a radius of 1.68 times that of Earth.
Is Kepler-1266 c in the Habitable Zone?
The position of Kepler-1266 c relative to the habitable zone of Kepler-1266 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Habitable zone of Kepler-1266: 0.453–1.093 AU (conservative: 0.573–1.036 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-1266 c — one full orbit around Kepler-1266 — lasts 4.87 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year.
How Was Kepler-1266 c Discovered?
Kepler-1266 c was discovered in 2021 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-1266 c?
Kepler-1266 c is 2,770.1 light-years (849.3 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet about 2,770 years ago. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 48,753,760 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-1266 c scores 0.28, ranking #2,148 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: Kepler-1266
Kepler-1266
- Surface temperature
- 5,044 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 0.80 M☉
- Radius
- 0.76 R☉
- Age
- 5.1 billion years (Sun: 4.6)
The Kepler-1266 Planetary System
Kepler-1266 c is one of 2 known planets in the Kepler-1266 system. Its siblings:
- Kepler-1266 b (Mini Neptune)
Kepler-1266 c — Complete Data
| Radius | 1.680 Earth radii (0.150 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 4.87 days |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.28 |
| Distance from Earth | 2,770.1 light-years (849.3 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Lyra |
| Discovery method | Transit |
| Discovery facility | Kepler |
| Discovery year | 2021 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2021-12-05. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About Kepler-1266 c
Is Kepler-1266 c habitable?
Kepler-1266 c is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of Kepler-1266, and as a super-Earth it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is Kepler-1266 c?
Kepler-1266 c is about 2,770 light-years from Earth in the constellation Lyra. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 48,753,760 years to get there.
How big is Kepler-1266 c compared to Earth?
Kepler-1266 c has 1.68 times the radius of Earth.
How long is a year on Kepler-1266 c?
One orbit around Kepler-1266 takes 4.9 Earth days — short enough that 75 of its years would fit into one Earth year.
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