Kepler-178 d
Kepler-178 d is a sub-Neptune orbiting Kepler-178 in the constellation Lyra. It lies about 2,335 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2014 using the transit method.
How Big Is Kepler-178 d?
Kepler-178 d has a radius of 3.95 times that of Earth.
Is Kepler-178 d in the Habitable Zone?
Kepler-178 d orbits inside the inner edge of the habitable zone of Kepler-178. So close to its star, surface conditions are far too hot for liquid water.
Habitable zone of Kepler-178: 0.777–1.835 AU (conservative: 0.984–1.740 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-178 d — one full orbit around Kepler-178 — lasts 96.7 Earth days, between the years of Mercury (88 days) and Earth (365 days). It orbits at an average distance of 0.397 AU — comparable to the inner Solar System.
How Was Kepler-178 d Discovered?
Kepler-178 d 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-178 d?
Kepler-178 d is 2,335.4 light-years (716.0 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet about 2,335 years ago. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 41,103,040 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-178 d scores 0.40, ranking #450 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: Kepler-178
Kepler-178
- Surface temperature
- 5,676 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Radius
- 1.07 R☉
The Kepler-178 Planetary System
Kepler-178 d is one of 3 known planets in the Kepler-178 system. Its siblings:
- Kepler-178 b (Mini Neptune)
- Kepler-178 c (Mini Neptune)
Kepler-178 d — Complete Data
| Radius | 3.950 Earth radii (0.352 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 96.68 days |
| Orbital distance | 0.397 AU |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.40 |
| Distance from Earth | 2,335.4 light-years (716.0 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-178 d
Is Kepler-178 d habitable?
No — Kepler-178 d orbits too close to its star and is too hot for liquid water to exist on its surface.
How far away is Kepler-178 d?
Kepler-178 d is about 2,335 light-years from Earth in the constellation Lyra. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 41,103,040 years to get there.
How big is Kepler-178 d compared to Earth?
Kepler-178 d has 3.95 times the radius of Earth.
How long is a year on Kepler-178 d?
One orbit around Kepler-178 takes 96.7 Earth days.
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