Kepler-26 b
Kepler-26 b is a puffy low-density planet orbiting Kepler-26 in the constellation Lyra. It lies about 1,094 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2011 using the transit method.
How Big Is Kepler-26 b?
Kepler-26 b has a radius of 2.78 times that of Earth. Its mass is 5.1 times that of Earth, giving it a density of 1.26 g/cm³ — closer to gas planets like Jupiter (1.33 g/cm³).
Is Kepler-26 b in the Habitable Zone?
The position of Kepler-26 b relative to the habitable zone of Kepler-26 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Habitable zone of Kepler-26: 0.191–0.485 AU (conservative: 0.242–0.460 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 ›
Temperature on Kepler-26 b
Kepler-26 b receives 7.60 times the stellar energy that Earth gets from the Sun.
Orbit and Year Length
A year on Kepler-26 b — one full orbit around Kepler-26 — lasts 12.3 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year.
How Was Kepler-26 b Discovered?
Kepler-26 b was discovered in 2011 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-26 b?
Kepler-26 b is 1,093.6 light-years (335.3 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet about 1,094 years ago. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 19,247,360 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-26 b scores 0.32, ranking #1,074 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: Kepler-26
Kepler-26
- Surface temperature
- 3,914 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 0.54 M☉
- Radius
- 0.51 R☉
The Kepler-26 Planetary System
Kepler-26 b is one of 4 known planets in the Kepler-26 system. Its siblings:
- Kepler-26 c (Mini Neptune)
- Kepler-26 d (Terrestrial)
- Kepler-26 e (Mini Neptune)
Kepler-26 b — Complete Data
| Radius | 2.780 Earth radii (0.248 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Mass | 5.12 Earth masses (0.016 Jupiter masses) |
| Density | 1.26 g/cm³ (Earth: 5.51) |
| Orbital period | 12.28 days |
| Stellar irradiation | 7.60× Earth |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.32 |
| Distance from Earth | 1,093.6 light-years (335.3 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Lyra |
| Discovery method | Transit |
| Discovery facility | Kepler |
| Discovery year | 2011 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2016-04-13. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About Kepler-26 b
Is Kepler-26 b habitable?
Kepler-26 b is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of Kepler-26, and as a puffy low-density planet it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is Kepler-26 b?
Kepler-26 b is about 1,094 light-years from Earth in the constellation Lyra. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 19,247,360 years to get there.
How big is Kepler-26 b compared to Earth?
Kepler-26 b has 2.78 times the radius of Earth and about 5.1 times its mass.
How long is a year on Kepler-26 b?
One orbit around Kepler-26 takes 12.3 Earth days — short enough that 30 of its years would fit into one Earth year.
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