Kepler-1972 b
Kepler-1972 b is a terrestrial planet orbiting Kepler-1972 in the constellation Lyra. It lies about 937 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2022 using the transit method.
How Big Is Kepler-1972 b?
Kepler-1972 b has a radius of 0.80 times that of Earth. Its mass is 2.0 times that of Earth, giving it a density of 22.20 g/cm³ — comparable to rocky planets like Earth (5.51 g/cm³).
Is Kepler-1972 b in the Habitable Zone?
The position of Kepler-1972 b relative to the habitable zone of Kepler-1972 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Habitable zone of Kepler-1972: 1.051–2.473 AU (conservative: 1.331–2.345 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-1972 b — one full orbit around Kepler-1972 — lasts 7.54 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year. Its orbit is mildly elliptical (eccentricity 0.07).
How Was Kepler-1972 b Discovered?
Kepler-1972 b was discovered in 2022 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-1972 b?
Kepler-1972 b is 937.2 light-years (287.3 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet around the year 1089. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 16,494,720 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-1972 b scores 0.29, ranking #1,686 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: Kepler-1972
Kepler-1972
- Surface temperature
- 5,818 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 1.12 M☉
- Radius
- 1.38 R☉
- Luminosity
- 1.9700 L☉
- Age
- 7.4 billion years (Sun: 4.6)
The Kepler-1972 Planetary System
Kepler-1972 b is one of 2 known planets in the Kepler-1972 system. Its siblings:
- Kepler-1972 c (Terrestrial)
Kepler-1972 b — Complete Data
| Radius | 0.802 Earth radii (0.072 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Mass | 2.02 Earth masses (0.006 Jupiter masses) |
| Density | 22.20 g/cm³ (Earth: 5.51) |
| Orbital period | 7.54 days |
| Eccentricity | 0.067 |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.29 |
| Distance from Earth | 937.2 light-years (287.3 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Lyra |
| Discovery method | Transit |
| Discovery facility | Kepler |
| Discovery year | 2022 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2023-03-28. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About Kepler-1972 b
Is Kepler-1972 b habitable?
Kepler-1972 b is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of Kepler-1972, and as a terrestrial planet it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is Kepler-1972 b?
Kepler-1972 b is about 937 light-years from Earth in the constellation Lyra. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 16,494,720 years to get there.
How big is Kepler-1972 b compared to Earth?
Kepler-1972 b has 0.80 times the radius of Earth and about 2.0 times its mass.
How long is a year on Kepler-1972 b?
One orbit around Kepler-1972 takes 7.5 Earth days — short enough that 48 of its years would fit into one Earth year.
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