Kepler-2001 b
Kepler-2001 b is a terrestrial planet orbiting Kepler-2001 in the constellation Cygnus. It lies about 2,533 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2023 using the transit method.
How Big Is Kepler-2001 b?
Kepler-2001 b has a radius of 1.04 times that of Earth.
Is Kepler-2001 b in the Habitable Zone?
Kepler-2001 b orbits inside the inner edge of the habitable zone of Kepler-2001. So close to its star, surface conditions are far too hot for liquid water.
Habitable zone of Kepler-2001: 0.465–1.120 AU (conservative: 0.588–1.061 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-2001 b
The equilibrium temperature of Kepler-2001 b is about 1,402 K (1,129 °C) — hot enough to melt many metals. This estimate ignores any atmosphere, which could change surface temperatures dramatically — Earth's greenhouse effect adds about 33 °C. It receives 911 times the stellar energy that Earth gets from the Sun.
Orbit and Year Length
A year on Kepler-2001 b — one full orbit around Kepler-2001 — lasts just 26.2 hours, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year. It orbits at an average distance of 0.020 AU — closer to its star than Mercury is to the Sun.
How Was Kepler-2001 b Discovered?
Kepler-2001 b 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-2001 b?
Kepler-2001 b is 2,532.8 light-years (776.6 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet about 2,533 years ago. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 44,577,280 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-2001 b scores 0.29, ranking #1,580 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: Kepler-2001
Kepler-2001
- Surface temperature
- 5,081 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 0.86 M☉
- Radius
- 0.77 R☉
The Kepler-2001 Planetary System
Kepler-2001 b is one of 2 known planets in the Kepler-2001 system. Its siblings:
- Kepler-2001 c (Super Earth)
Kepler-2001 b — Complete Data
| Radius | 1.040 Earth radii (0.093 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 1.09 days |
| Orbital distance | 0.020 AU |
| Equilibrium temperature | 1,402 K (1,129 °C) |
| Stellar irradiation | 911.28× Earth |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.29 |
| Distance from Earth | 2,532.8 light-years (776.6 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Cygnus |
| 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-2001 b
Is Kepler-2001 b habitable?
No — Kepler-2001 b orbits too close to its star and is too hot for liquid water to exist on its surface.
How far away is Kepler-2001 b?
Kepler-2001 b is about 2,533 light-years from Earth in the constellation Cygnus. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 44,577,280 years to get there.
How big is Kepler-2001 b compared to Earth?
Kepler-2001 b has 1.04 times the radius of Earth.
How long is a year on Kepler-2001 b?
One orbit around Kepler-2001 takes 1.1 Earth days — short enough that 335 of its years would fit into one Earth year.
Explore Kepler-2001 b in the app
Browse, filter and compare 6,000+ exoplanets on iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch — with habitable-zone views, widgets and offline data.
