Kepler-1294 b
Kepler-1294 b is a sub-Neptune orbiting Kepler-1294 in the constellation Cygnus. It lies about 6,053 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2016 using the transit method.
How Big Is Kepler-1294 b?
Kepler-1294 b has a radius of 3.19 times that of Earth.
Is Kepler-1294 b in the Habitable Zone?
The position of Kepler-1294 b relative to the habitable zone of Kepler-1294 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Habitable zone of Kepler-1294: 0.728–1.714 AU (conservative: 0.922–1.625 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-1294 b — one full orbit around Kepler-1294 — lasts 115.7 Earth days, between the years of Mercury (88 days) and Earth (365 days).
How Was Kepler-1294 b Discovered?
Kepler-1294 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-1294 b?
Kepler-1294 b is 6,052.5 light-years (1,855.7 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet about 6,053 years ago. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 106,524,000 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. Kepler-1294 b scores 0.30, ranking #1,485 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: Kepler-1294
Kepler-1294
- Surface temperature
- 5,776 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 0.99 M☉
- Radius
- 0.97 R☉
- Age
- 4.0 billion years (Sun: 4.6)
Planetary System
Kepler-1294 b is the only planet known to orbit Kepler-1294 so far.
Kepler-1294 b — Complete Data
| Radius | 3.190 Earth radii (0.285 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 115.69 days |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.30 |
| Distance from Earth | 6,052.5 light-years (1,855.7 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-1294 b
Is Kepler-1294 b habitable?
Kepler-1294 b is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of Kepler-1294, and as a sub-Neptune it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is Kepler-1294 b?
Kepler-1294 b is about 6,053 light-years from Earth in the constellation Cygnus. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 106,524,000 years to get there.
How big is Kepler-1294 b compared to Earth?
Kepler-1294 b has 3.19 times the radius of Earth.
How long is a year on Kepler-1294 b?
One orbit around Kepler-1294 takes 115.7 Earth days.