Kepler-1656 b
Kepler-1656 b is a Neptune-like planet orbiting Kepler-1656 in the constellation Lyra. It lies about 606 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2018 using the transit method.
Is Kepler-1656 b in the Habitable Zone?
The position of Kepler-1656 b relative to the habitable zone of Kepler-1656 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Orbit and Year Length
A year on Kepler-1656 b — one full orbit around Kepler-1656 — lasts 31.6 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year. It orbits at an average distance of 0.197 AU — closer to its star than Mercury is to the Sun. Its orbit is highly elliptical (eccentricity 0.84), swinging dramatically closer to and farther from its star.
How Was Kepler-1656 b Discovered?
Kepler-1656 b was discovered in 2018 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-1656 b?
Kepler-1656 b is 606.2 light-years (185.9 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet around the year 1420. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 10,669,120 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-1656 b scores 0.18, ranking #4,011 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: Kepler-1656
Kepler-1656
- Mass
- 1.03 M☉
- Radius
- 1.10 R☉
- Age
- 6.3 billion years (Sun: 4.6)
The Kepler-1656 Planetary System
Kepler-1656 b is one of 2 known planets in the Kepler-1656 system. Its siblings:
- Kepler-1656 c (Cold Gas Giant)
Kepler-1656 b — Complete Data
| Mass | 47.80 Earth masses (0.150 Jupiter masses) |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 31.56 days |
| Orbital distance | 0.197 AU |
| Eccentricity | 0.838 |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.18 |
| Distance from Earth | 606.2 light-years (185.9 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Lyra |
| Discovery method | Transit |
| Discovery facility | Kepler |
| Discovery year | 2018 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2022-05-24. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About Kepler-1656 b
Is Kepler-1656 b habitable?
Kepler-1656 b is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of Kepler-1656, and as a Neptune-like planet it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is Kepler-1656 b?
Kepler-1656 b is about 606 light-years from Earth in the constellation Lyra. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 10,669,120 years to get there.
How long is a year on Kepler-1656 b?
One orbit around Kepler-1656 takes 31.6 Earth days — short enough that 12 of its years would fit into one Earth year.
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