Kepler-234 b
Kepler-234 b is a sub-Neptune orbiting Kepler-234 in the constellation Lyra. It lies about 5,653 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2014 using the transit method.
How Big Is Kepler-234 b?
Kepler-234 b has a radius of 3.70 times that of Earth.
Is Kepler-234 b in the Habitable Zone?
Kepler-234 b orbits inside the inner edge of the habitable zone of Kepler-234. So close to its star, surface conditions are far too hot for liquid water.
Habitable zone of Kepler-234: 0.943–2.200 AU (conservative: 1.195–2.086 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-234 b — one full orbit around Kepler-234 — lasts 2.71 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year. It orbits at an average distance of 0.040 AU — closer to its star than Mercury is to the Sun.
How Was Kepler-234 b Discovered?
Kepler-234 b was discovered in 2014 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-234 b?
Kepler-234 b is 5,652.6 light-years (1,733.1 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet about 5,653 years ago. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 99,485,760 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-234 b scores 0.19, ranking #4,005 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: Kepler-234
Kepler-234
- Surface temperature
- 6,224 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Radius
- 1.11 R☉
The Kepler-234 Planetary System
Kepler-234 b is one of 2 known planets in the Kepler-234 system. Its siblings:
- Kepler-234 c (Sub Neptune)
Kepler-234 b — Complete Data
| Radius | 3.700 Earth radii (0.330 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 2.71 days |
| Orbital distance | 0.040 AU |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.19 |
| Distance from Earth | 5,652.6 light-years (1,733.1 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Lyra |
| Discovery method | Transit |
| Discovery facility | Kepler |
| Discovery year | 2014 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2014-05-14. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About Kepler-234 b
Is Kepler-234 b habitable?
No — Kepler-234 b orbits too close to its star and is too hot for liquid water to exist on its surface.
How far away is Kepler-234 b?
Kepler-234 b is about 5,653 light-years from Earth in the constellation Lyra. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 99,485,760 years to get there.
How big is Kepler-234 b compared to Earth?
Kepler-234 b has 3.70 times the radius of Earth.
How long is a year on Kepler-234 b?
One orbit around Kepler-234 takes 2.7 Earth days — short enough that 135 of its years would fit into one Earth year.
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