Kepler-234 c
Kepler-234 c 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 c?
Kepler-234 c has a radius of 3.51 times that of Earth.
Is Kepler-234 c in the Habitable Zone?
Kepler-234 c 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 c — one full orbit around Kepler-234 — lasts 7.21 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year. It orbits at an average distance of 0.077 AU — closer to its star than Mercury is to the Sun.
How Was Kepler-234 c Discovered?
Kepler-234 c 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 c?
Kepler-234 c 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 c scores 0.19, ranking #3,928 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 c is one of 2 known planets in the Kepler-234 system. Its siblings:
- Kepler-234 b (Sub Neptune)
Kepler-234 c — Complete Data
| Radius | 3.510 Earth radii (0.313 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 7.21 days |
| Orbital distance | 0.077 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 c
Is Kepler-234 c habitable?
No — Kepler-234 c orbits too close to its star and is too hot for liquid water to exist on its surface.
How far away is Kepler-234 c?
Kepler-234 c 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 c compared to Earth?
Kepler-234 c has 3.51 times the radius of Earth.
How long is a year on Kepler-234 c?
One orbit around Kepler-234 takes 7.2 Earth days — short enough that 51 of its years would fit into one Earth year.
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