Kepler-159 c
Kepler-159 c is a sub-Neptune orbiting Kepler-159 in the constellation Cygnus. It lies about 1,219 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2014 using the transit method.
How Big Is Kepler-159 c?
Kepler-159 c has a radius of 3.41 times that of Earth.
Is Kepler-159 c in the Habitable Zone?
Kepler-159 c orbits inside the inner edge of the habitable zone of Kepler-159. So close to its star, surface conditions are far too hot for liquid water.
Habitable zone of Kepler-159: 0.338–0.831 AU (conservative: 0.428–0.788 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-159 c — one full orbit around Kepler-159 — lasts 43.6 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year. It orbits at an average distance of 0.218 AU — closer to its star than Mercury is to the Sun.
How Was Kepler-159 c Discovered?
Kepler-159 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-159 c?
Kepler-159 c is 1,219.0 light-years (373.7 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet about 1,219 years ago. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 21,454,400 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-159 c scores 0.44, ranking #361 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: Kepler-159
Kepler-159
- Surface temperature
- 4,625 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Radius
- 0.66 R☉
The Kepler-159 Planetary System
Kepler-159 c is one of 2 known planets in the Kepler-159 system. Its siblings:
- Kepler-159 b (Mini Neptune)
Kepler-159 c — Complete Data
| Radius | 3.410 Earth radii (0.304 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 43.60 days |
| Orbital distance | 0.218 AU |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.44 |
| Distance from Earth | 1,219.0 light-years (373.7 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Cygnus |
| 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-159 c
Is Kepler-159 c habitable?
No — Kepler-159 c orbits too close to its star and is too hot for liquid water to exist on its surface.
How far away is Kepler-159 c?
Kepler-159 c is about 1,219 light-years from Earth in the constellation Cygnus. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 21,454,400 years to get there.
How big is Kepler-159 c compared to Earth?
Kepler-159 c has 3.41 times the radius of Earth.
How long is a year on Kepler-159 c?
One orbit around Kepler-159 takes 43.6 Earth days.
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