Kepler-254 d
Kepler-254 d is a mini-Neptune orbiting Kepler-254 in the constellation Lyra. It lies about 4,532 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2014 using the transit method.
How Big Is Kepler-254 d?
Kepler-254 d has a radius of 2.50 times that of Earth.
Is Kepler-254 d in the Habitable Zone?
Kepler-254 d orbits inside the inner edge of the habitable zone of Kepler-254. So close to its star, surface conditions are far too hot for liquid water.
Habitable zone of Kepler-254: 0.718–1.684 AU (conservative: 0.910–1.597 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-254 d — one full orbit around Kepler-254 — lasts 18.7 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year. It orbits at an average distance of 0.139 AU — closer to its star than Mercury is to the Sun.
How Was Kepler-254 d Discovered?
Kepler-254 d 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-254 d?
Kepler-254 d is 4,531.9 light-years (1,389.5 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet about 4,532 years ago. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 79,761,440 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-254 d scores 0.26, ranking #2,785 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: Kepler-254
Kepler-254
- Surface temperature
- 5,957 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Radius
- 0.91 R☉
The Kepler-254 Planetary System
Kepler-254 d is one of 3 known planets in the Kepler-254 system. Its siblings:
- Kepler-254 b (Sub Neptune)
- Kepler-254 c (Mini Neptune)
Kepler-254 d — Complete Data
| Radius | 2.500 Earth radii (0.223 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 18.75 days |
| Orbital distance | 0.139 AU |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.26 |
| Distance from Earth | 4,531.9 light-years (1,389.5 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-254 d
Is Kepler-254 d habitable?
No — Kepler-254 d orbits too close to its star and is too hot for liquid water to exist on its surface.
How far away is Kepler-254 d?
Kepler-254 d is about 4,532 light-years from Earth in the constellation Lyra. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 79,761,440 years to get there.
How big is Kepler-254 d compared to Earth?
Kepler-254 d has 2.50 times the radius of Earth.
How long is a year on Kepler-254 d?
One orbit around Kepler-254 takes 18.7 Earth days — short enough that 19 of its years would fit into one Earth year.