Kepler-26 e
Kepler-26 e is a mini-Neptune orbiting Kepler-26 in the constellation Lyra. It lies about 1,094 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2014 using the transit method. It orbits within the habitable zone of its star — the region where liquid water could exist on a planet's surface.
How Big Is Kepler-26 e?
Kepler-26 e has a radius of 2.41 times that of Earth.
Is Kepler-26 e in the Habitable Zone?
Kepler-26 e orbits within the optimistic habitable zone of Kepler-26 — the broader region where liquid water might be possible under favorable atmospheric conditions.
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 ›
Orbit and Year Length
A year on Kepler-26 e — one full orbit around Kepler-26 — lasts 46.8 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year. It orbits at an average distance of 0.220 AU — closer to its star than Mercury is to the Sun.
How Was Kepler-26 e Discovered?
Kepler-26 e 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-26 e?
Kepler-26 e 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 e scores 0.64, ranking #102 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 e is one of 4 known planets in the Kepler-26 system. Its siblings:
- Kepler-26 b (Puffy Planet)
- Kepler-26 c (Mini Neptune)
- Kepler-26 d (Terrestrial)
Kepler-26 e — Complete Data
| Radius | 2.410 Earth radii (0.215 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 46.83 days |
| Orbital distance | 0.220 AU |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.64 |
| Distance from Earth | 1,093.6 light-years (335.3 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-26 e
Is Kepler-26 e habitable?
Kepler-26 e orbits within the habitable zone of Kepler-26, the region where liquid water could exist on a planet's surface. Whether it is actually habitable depends on its atmosphere and composition, which remain unknown.
How far away is Kepler-26 e?
Kepler-26 e 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 e compared to Earth?
Kepler-26 e has 2.41 times the radius of Earth.
How long is a year on Kepler-26 e?
One orbit around Kepler-26 takes 46.8 Earth days.
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