Kepler-238 e
Kepler-238 e is a Neptune-like planet orbiting Kepler-238 in the constellation Lyra. It lies about 5,867 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2013 using the transit method.
How Big Is Kepler-238 e?
Kepler-238 e has a radius of 5.60 times that of Earth. Its mass is 170 times that of Earth.
Is Kepler-238 e in the Habitable Zone?
The position of Kepler-238 e relative to the habitable zone of Kepler-238 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Habitable zone of Kepler-238: 1.065–2.511 AU (conservative: 1.349–2.380 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-238 e — one full orbit around Kepler-238 — lasts 23.7 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year.
How Was Kepler-238 e Discovered?
Kepler-238 e was discovered in 2013 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-238 e?
Kepler-238 e is 5,866.7 light-years (1,798.8 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet about 5,867 years ago. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 103,253,920 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-238 e scores 0.15, ranking #4,206 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: Kepler-238
Kepler-238
- Surface temperature
- 5,751 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Radius
- 1.43 R☉
The Kepler-238 Planetary System
Kepler-238 e is one of 5 known planets in the Kepler-238 system. Its siblings:
- Kepler-238 b (Super Earth)
- Kepler-238 c (Mini Neptune)
- Kepler-238 d (Sub Neptune)
- Kepler-238 f (Super Earth)
Kepler-238 e — Complete Data
| Radius | 5.600 Earth radii (0.500 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Mass | 169.70 Earth masses (0.534 Jupiter masses) |
| Orbital period | 23.65 days |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.15 |
| Distance from Earth | 5,866.7 light-years (1,798.8 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Lyra |
| Discovery method | Transit |
| Discovery facility | Kepler |
| Discovery year | 2013 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2014-05-14. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About Kepler-238 e
Is Kepler-238 e habitable?
Kepler-238 e is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of Kepler-238, and as a Neptune-like planet it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is Kepler-238 e?
Kepler-238 e is about 5,867 light-years from Earth in the constellation Lyra. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 103,253,920 years to get there.
How big is Kepler-238 e compared to Earth?
Kepler-238 e has 5.60 times the radius of Earth and about 170 times its mass.
How long is a year on Kepler-238 e?
One orbit around Kepler-238 takes 23.7 Earth days — short enough that 15 of its years would fit into one Earth year.
Explore Kepler-238 e in the app
Browse, filter and compare 6,000+ exoplanets on iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch — with habitable-zone views, widgets and offline data.
