Kepler-277 b
Kepler-277 b is a super-Earth orbiting Kepler-277 in the constellation Lyra. It lies about 3,185 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2013 using the transit method.
How Big Is Kepler-277 b?
Kepler-277 b has a radius of 2.92 times that of Earth. Its mass is 87.3 times that of Earth.
Is Kepler-277 b in the Habitable Zone?
The position of Kepler-277 b relative to the habitable zone of Kepler-277 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Orbit and Year Length
A year on Kepler-277 b — one full orbit around Kepler-277 — lasts 17.3 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year.
How Was Kepler-277 b Discovered?
Kepler-277 b 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-277 b?
Kepler-277 b is 3,185.4 light-years (976.6 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet about 3,185 years ago. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 56,063,040 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-277 b scores 0.22, ranking #3,662 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: Kepler-277
Kepler-277
- Mass
- 1.12 M☉
- Radius
- 1.69 R☉
The Kepler-277 Planetary System
Kepler-277 b is one of 2 known planets in the Kepler-277 system. Its siblings:
- Kepler-277 c (Super Earth)
Kepler-277 b — Complete Data
| Radius | 2.920 Earth radii (0.261 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Mass | 87.30 Earth masses (0.275 Jupiter masses) |
| Orbital period | 17.32 days |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.22 |
| Distance from Earth | 3,185.4 light-years (976.6 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-277 b
Is Kepler-277 b habitable?
Kepler-277 b is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of Kepler-277, and as a super-Earth it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is Kepler-277 b?
Kepler-277 b is about 3,185 light-years from Earth in the constellation Lyra. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 56,063,040 years to get there.
How big is Kepler-277 b compared to Earth?
Kepler-277 b has 2.92 times the radius of Earth and about 87.3 times its mass.
How long is a year on Kepler-277 b?
One orbit around Kepler-277 takes 17.3 Earth days — short enough that 21 of its years would fit into one Earth year.
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