Kepler-217 d
Kepler-217 d is a super-Earth orbiting Kepler-217 in the constellation Cygnus. It lies about 3,603 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2016 using the transit method.
How Big Is Kepler-217 d?
Kepler-217 d has a radius of 1.32 times that of Earth.
Is Kepler-217 d in the Habitable Zone?
The position of Kepler-217 d relative to the habitable zone of Kepler-217 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Habitable zone of Kepler-217: 1.504–3.510 AU (conservative: 1.904–3.328 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-217 d — one full orbit around Kepler-217 — lasts 3.89 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year.
How Was Kepler-217 d Discovered?
Kepler-217 d was discovered in 2016 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-217 d?
Kepler-217 d is 3,602.8 light-years (1,104.6 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet about 3,603 years ago. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 63,409,280 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-217 d scores 0.29, ranking #2,002 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: Kepler-217
Kepler-217
- Surface temperature
- 6,171 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Radius
- 1.80 R☉
The Kepler-217 Planetary System
Kepler-217 d is one of 3 known planets in the Kepler-217 system. Its siblings:
- Kepler-217 b (Mini Neptune)
- Kepler-217 c (Super Earth)
Kepler-217 d — Complete Data
| Radius | 1.320 Earth radii (0.118 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 3.89 days |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.29 |
| Distance from Earth | 3,602.8 light-years (1,104.6 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Cygnus |
| Discovery method | Transit |
| Discovery facility | Kepler |
| Discovery year | 2016 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2016-05-06. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About Kepler-217 d
Is Kepler-217 d habitable?
Kepler-217 d is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of Kepler-217, and as a super-Earth it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is Kepler-217 d?
Kepler-217 d is about 3,603 light-years from Earth in the constellation Cygnus. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 63,409,280 years to get there.
How big is Kepler-217 d compared to Earth?
Kepler-217 d has 1.32 times the radius of Earth.
How long is a year on Kepler-217 d?
One orbit around Kepler-217 takes 3.9 Earth days — short enough that 94 of its years would fit into one Earth year.