Kepler-1540 b
Kepler-1540 b is a mini-Neptune orbiting Kepler-1540 in the constellation Lyra. It lies about 799 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2016 using the transit method.
How Big Is Kepler-1540 b?
Kepler-1540 b has a radius of 2.49 times that of Earth.
Is Kepler-1540 b in the Habitable Zone?
The position of Kepler-1540 b relative to the habitable zone of Kepler-1540 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Habitable zone of Kepler-1540: 0.340–0.839 AU (conservative: 0.431–0.795 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-1540 b — one full orbit around Kepler-1540 — lasts 125.4 Earth days, between the years of Mercury (88 days) and Earth (365 days).
How Was Kepler-1540 b Discovered?
Kepler-1540 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-1540 b?
Kepler-1540 b is 799.0 light-years (245.0 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet around the year 1227. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 14,062,400 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-1540 b scores 0.69, ranking #68 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: Kepler-1540
Kepler-1540 b belongs to a system of 2 stars; it orbits Kepler-1540.
Kepler-1540
- Surface temperature
- 4,540 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 0.74 M☉
- Radius
- 0.69 R☉
- Age
- 2.5 billion years (Sun: 4.6)
Planetary System
Kepler-1540 b is the only planet known to orbit Kepler-1540 so far.
Kepler-1540 b — Complete Data
| Radius | 2.490 Earth radii (0.222 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 125.41 days |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.69 |
| Distance from Earth | 799.0 light-years (245.0 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Lyra |
| 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-1540 b
Is Kepler-1540 b habitable?
Kepler-1540 b is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of Kepler-1540, and as a mini-Neptune it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is Kepler-1540 b?
Kepler-1540 b is about 799 light-years from Earth in the constellation Lyra. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 14,062,400 years to get there.
How big is Kepler-1540 b compared to Earth?
Kepler-1540 b has 2.49 times the radius of Earth.
How long is a year on Kepler-1540 b?
One orbit around Kepler-1540 takes 125.4 Earth days.
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