Kepler-149 b
Kepler-149 b is a Neptune-like planet orbiting Kepler-149 in the constellation Lyra. It lies about 1,863 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2014 using the transit method.
How Big Is Kepler-149 b?
Kepler-149 b has a radius of 4.21 times that of Earth.
Is Kepler-149 b in the Habitable Zone?
Kepler-149 b orbits inside the inner edge of the habitable zone of Kepler-149. So close to its star, surface conditions are far too hot for liquid water.
Habitable zone of Kepler-149: 0.635–1.513 AU (conservative: 0.804–1.435 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-149 b — one full orbit around Kepler-149 — lasts 29.2 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year. It orbits at an average distance of 0.184 AU — closer to its star than Mercury is to the Sun.
How Was Kepler-149 b Discovered?
Kepler-149 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-149 b?
Kepler-149 b is 1,862.5 light-years (571.0 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet about 1,863 years ago. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 32,780,000 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-149 b scores 0.22, ranking #3,646 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: Kepler-149
Kepler-149
- Surface temperature
- 5,381 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Radius
- 0.95 R☉
The Kepler-149 Planetary System
Kepler-149 b is one of 3 known planets in the Kepler-149 system. Its siblings:
- Kepler-149 c (Super Earth)
- Kepler-149 d (Sub Neptune)
Kepler-149 b — Complete Data
| Radius | 4.210 Earth radii (0.376 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 29.20 days |
| Orbital distance | 0.184 AU |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.22 |
| Distance from Earth | 1,862.5 light-years (571.0 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-149 b
Is Kepler-149 b habitable?
No — Kepler-149 b orbits too close to its star and is too hot for liquid water to exist on its surface.
How far away is Kepler-149 b?
Kepler-149 b is about 1,863 light-years from Earth in the constellation Lyra. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 32,780,000 years to get there.
How big is Kepler-149 b compared to Earth?
Kepler-149 b has 4.21 times the radius of Earth.
How long is a year on Kepler-149 b?
One orbit around Kepler-149 takes 29.2 Earth days — short enough that 13 of its years would fit into one Earth year.