Kepler-1996 c
Kepler-1996 c is a mini-Neptune orbiting Kepler-1996 in the constellation Lyra. It lies about 1,437 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2023 using the transit method. It orbits within the habitable zone of its star — the region where liquid water could exist on a planet's surface.
How Big Is Kepler-1996 c?
Kepler-1996 c has a radius of 2.81 times that of Earth.
Is Kepler-1996 c in the Habitable Zone?
Kepler-1996 c orbits within the optimistic habitable zone of Kepler-1996 — the broader region where liquid water might be possible under favorable atmospheric conditions.
Habitable zone of Kepler-1996: 0.338–0.832 AU (conservative: 0.428–0.789 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 ›
Temperature on Kepler-1996 c
The equilibrium temperature of Kepler-1996 c is about 276 K (3 °C) — in a range broadly comparable to Earth, whose equilibrium temperature is 255 K. This estimate ignores any atmosphere, which could change surface temperatures dramatically — Earth's greenhouse effect adds about 33 °C. It receives 1.38 times the stellar energy that Earth gets from the Sun.
Orbit and Year Length
A year on Kepler-1996 c — one full orbit around Kepler-1996 — lasts 92.7 Earth days, between the years of Mercury (88 days) and Earth (365 days). It orbits at an average distance of 0.361 AU — closer to its star than Mercury is to the Sun.
How Was Kepler-1996 c Discovered?
Kepler-1996 c was discovered in 2023 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-1996 c?
Kepler-1996 c is 1,436.9 light-years (440.6 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet about 1,437 years ago. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 25,289,440 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-1996 c scores 0.62, ranking #118 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: Kepler-1996
Kepler-1996
- Surface temperature
- 4,580 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 0.75 M☉
- Radius
- 0.68 R☉
The Kepler-1996 Planetary System
Kepler-1996 c is one of 2 known planets in the Kepler-1996 system. Its siblings:
- Kepler-1996 b (Mini Neptune)
Kepler-1996 c — Complete Data
| Radius | 2.810 Earth radii (0.251 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 92.73 days |
| Orbital distance | 0.361 AU |
| Equilibrium temperature | 276 K (3 °C) |
| Stellar irradiation | 1.38× Earth |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.62 |
| Distance from Earth | 1,436.9 light-years (440.6 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Lyra |
| Discovery method | Transit |
| Discovery facility | Kepler |
| Discovery year | 2023 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2017-05-08. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About Kepler-1996 c
Is Kepler-1996 c habitable?
Kepler-1996 c orbits within the habitable zone of Kepler-1996, the region where liquid water could exist on a planet's surface. Whether it is actually habitable depends on its atmosphere and composition, which remain unknown.
How far away is Kepler-1996 c?
Kepler-1996 c is about 1,437 light-years from Earth in the constellation Lyra. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 25,289,440 years to get there.
How big is Kepler-1996 c compared to Earth?
Kepler-1996 c has 2.81 times the radius of Earth.
How long is a year on Kepler-1996 c?
One orbit around Kepler-1996 takes 92.7 Earth days.
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