Kepler-131 b
Kepler-131 b is a super-Earth orbiting Kepler-131 in the constellation Lyra. It lies about 746 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2014 using the transit method.
How Big Is Kepler-131 b?
Kepler-131 b has a radius of 2.41 times that of Earth. Its mass is 16.1 times that of Earth, giving it a density of 6.00 g/cm³ — comparable to rocky planets like Earth (5.51 g/cm³).
Is Kepler-131 b in the Habitable Zone?
The position of Kepler-131 b relative to the habitable zone of Kepler-131 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Habitable zone of Kepler-131: 0.752–1.777 AU (conservative: 0.953–1.685 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-131 b — one full orbit around Kepler-131 — lasts 16.1 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year.
How Was Kepler-131 b Discovered?
Kepler-131 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-131 b?
Kepler-131 b is 745.8 light-years (228.7 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet around the year 1281. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 13,126,080 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-131 b scores 0.25, ranking #2,997 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: Kepler-131
Kepler-131
- Surface temperature
- 5,685 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 1.02 M☉
- Radius
- 1.03 R☉
- Age
- 3.7 billion years (Sun: 4.6)
The Kepler-131 Planetary System
Kepler-131 b is one of 2 known planets in the Kepler-131 system. Its siblings:
- Kepler-131 c (Terrestrial)
Kepler-131 b — Complete Data
| Radius | 2.410 Earth radii (0.215 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Mass | 16.13 Earth masses (0.051 Jupiter masses) |
| Density | 6.00 g/cm³ (Earth: 5.51) |
| Orbital period | 16.09 days |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.25 |
| Distance from Earth | 745.8 light-years (228.7 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Lyra |
| Discovery method | Transit |
| Discovery facility | Kepler |
| Discovery year | 2014 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2014-05-14. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About Kepler-131 b
Is Kepler-131 b habitable?
Kepler-131 b is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of Kepler-131, and as a super-Earth it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is Kepler-131 b?
Kepler-131 b is about 746 light-years from Earth in the constellation Lyra. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 13,126,080 years to get there.
How big is Kepler-131 b compared to Earth?
Kepler-131 b has 2.41 times the radius of Earth and about 16.1 times its mass.
How long is a year on Kepler-131 b?
One orbit around Kepler-131 takes 16.1 Earth days — short enough that 23 of its years would fit into one Earth year.
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