Kepler-1959 b
Kepler-1959 b is a terrestrial planet orbiting Kepler-1959 in the constellation Cygnus. It lies about 1,563 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2021 using the transit method.
How Big Is Kepler-1959 b?
Kepler-1959 b has a radius of 1.14 times that of Earth.
Is Kepler-1959 b in the Habitable Zone?
The position of Kepler-1959 b relative to the habitable zone of Kepler-1959 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Habitable zone of Kepler-1959: 0.488–1.176 AU (conservative: 0.618–1.115 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-1959 b — one full orbit around Kepler-1959 — lasts 6.39 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year.
How Was Kepler-1959 b Discovered?
Kepler-1959 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-1959 b?
Kepler-1959 b is 1,563.1 light-years (479.3 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet about 1,563 years ago. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 27,510,560 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-1959 b scores 0.31, ranking #1,202 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: Kepler-1959
Kepler-1959
- Surface temperature
- 5,071 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 0.77 M☉
- Radius
- 0.81 R☉
Planetary System
Kepler-1959 b is the only planet known to orbit Kepler-1959 so far.
Kepler-1959 b — Complete Data
| Radius | 1.143 Earth radii (0.102 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 6.39 days |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.31 |
| Distance from Earth | 1,563.1 light-years (479.3 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-1959 b
Is Kepler-1959 b habitable?
Kepler-1959 b is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of Kepler-1959, and as a terrestrial planet it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is Kepler-1959 b?
Kepler-1959 b is about 1,563 light-years from Earth in the constellation Cygnus. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 27,510,560 years to get there.
How big is Kepler-1959 b compared to Earth?
Kepler-1959 b has 1.14 times the radius of Earth.
How long is a year on Kepler-1959 b?
One orbit around Kepler-1959 takes 6.4 Earth days — short enough that 57 of its years would fit into one Earth year.