Kepler-1859 b
Kepler-1859 b is a super-Earth orbiting Kepler-1859 in the constellation Cygnus. It lies about 4,342 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2021 using the transit method.
How Big Is Kepler-1859 b?
Kepler-1859 b has a radius of 1.58 times that of Earth.
Is Kepler-1859 b in the Habitable Zone?
The position of Kepler-1859 b relative to the habitable zone of Kepler-1859 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Habitable zone of Kepler-1859: 0.956–2.246 AU (conservative: 1.211–2.129 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-1859 b — one full orbit around Kepler-1859 — lasts 2.73 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year.
How Was Kepler-1859 b Discovered?
Kepler-1859 b was discovered in 2021 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-1859 b?
Kepler-1859 b is 4,342.0 light-years (1,331.3 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet about 4,342 years ago. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 76,419,200 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-1859 b scores 0.28, ranking #2,374 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: Kepler-1859
Kepler-1859
- Surface temperature
- 5,887 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 1.09 M☉
- Radius
- 1.24 R☉
The Kepler-1859 Planetary System
Kepler-1859 b is one of 2 known planets in the Kepler-1859 system. Its siblings:
- Kepler-1859 c (Super Earth)
Kepler-1859 b — Complete Data
| Radius | 1.583 Earth radii (0.141 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 2.73 days |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.28 |
| Distance from Earth | 4,342.0 light-years (1,331.3 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Cygnus |
| Discovery method | Transit |
| Discovery facility | Kepler |
| Discovery year | 2021 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2021-12-05. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About Kepler-1859 b
Is Kepler-1859 b habitable?
Kepler-1859 b is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of Kepler-1859, and as a super-Earth it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is Kepler-1859 b?
Kepler-1859 b is about 4,342 light-years from Earth in the constellation Cygnus. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 76,419,200 years to get there.
How big is Kepler-1859 b compared to Earth?
Kepler-1859 b has 1.58 times the radius of Earth.
How long is a year on Kepler-1859 b?
One orbit around Kepler-1859 takes 2.7 Earth days — short enough that 134 of its years would fit into one Earth year.