Kepler-140 c
Kepler-140 c is a super-Earth orbiting Kepler-140 in the constellation Lyra. It lies about 1,904 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2014 using the transit method.
How Big Is Kepler-140 c?
Kepler-140 c has a radius of 1.80 times that of Earth.
Is Kepler-140 c in the Habitable Zone?
Kepler-140 c orbits inside the inner edge of the habitable zone of Kepler-140. So close to its star, surface conditions are far too hot for liquid water.
Habitable zone of Kepler-140: 1.050–2.456 AU (conservative: 1.330–2.329 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-140 c — one full orbit around Kepler-140 — lasts 91.4 Earth days, between the years of Mercury (88 days) and Earth (365 days). It orbits at an average distance of 0.414 AU — comparable to the inner Solar System.
How Was Kepler-140 c Discovered?
Kepler-140 c 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-140 c?
Kepler-140 c is 1,904.3 light-years (583.9 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet about 1,904 years ago. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 33,515,680 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-140 c scores 0.38, ranking #557 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: Kepler-140
Kepler-140
- Surface temperature
- 6,077 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Radius
- 1.29 R☉
The Kepler-140 Planetary System
Kepler-140 c is one of 2 known planets in the Kepler-140 system. Its siblings:
- Kepler-140 b (Super Earth)
Kepler-140 c — Complete Data
| Radius | 1.800 Earth radii (0.161 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 91.35 days |
| Orbital distance | 0.414 AU |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.38 |
| Distance from Earth | 1,904.3 light-years (583.9 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-140 c
Is Kepler-140 c habitable?
No — Kepler-140 c orbits too close to its star and is too hot for liquid water to exist on its surface.
How far away is Kepler-140 c?
Kepler-140 c is about 1,904 light-years from Earth in the constellation Lyra. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 33,515,680 years to get there.
How big is Kepler-140 c compared to Earth?
Kepler-140 c has 1.80 times the radius of Earth.
How long is a year on Kepler-140 c?
One orbit around Kepler-140 takes 91.4 Earth days.