Kepler-32 b
Kepler-32 b is a super-Earth orbiting Kepler-32 in the constellation Cygnus. It lies about 1,056 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2011 using the transit method.
How Big Is Kepler-32 b?
Kepler-32 b has a radius of 2.20 times that of Earth. Its mass is 1,303 times that of Earth.
Is Kepler-32 b in the Habitable Zone?
Kepler-32 b orbits inside the inner edge of the habitable zone of Kepler-32. So close to its star, surface conditions are far too hot for liquid water.
Habitable zone of Kepler-32: 0.196–0.499 AU (conservative: 0.249–0.473 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-32 b — one full orbit around Kepler-32 — lasts 5.90 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year. It orbits at an average distance of 0.050 AU — closer to its star than Mercury is to the Sun.
How Was Kepler-32 b Discovered?
Kepler-32 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-32 b?
Kepler-32 b is 1,056.2 light-years (323.8 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet about 1,056 years ago. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 18,589,120 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-32 b scores 0.31, ranking #1,222 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: Kepler-32
Kepler-32
- Surface temperature
- 3,900 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 0.58 M☉
- Radius
- 0.53 R☉
The Kepler-32 Planetary System
Kepler-32 b is one of 5 known planets in the Kepler-32 system. Its siblings:
- Kepler-32 c (Super Earth)
- Kepler-32 d (Mini Neptune)
- Kepler-32 e (Super Earth)
- Kepler-32 f (Terrestrial)
Kepler-32 b — Complete Data
| Radius | 2.200 Earth radii (0.196 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Mass | 1,303.00 Earth masses (4.100 Jupiter masses) |
| Orbital period | 5.90 days |
| Orbital distance | 0.050 AU |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.31 |
| Distance from Earth | 1,056.2 light-years (323.8 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Cygnus |
| Discovery method | Transit |
| Discovery facility | Kepler |
| Discovery year | 2011 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2016-03-23. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About Kepler-32 b
Is Kepler-32 b habitable?
No — Kepler-32 b orbits too close to its star and is too hot for liquid water to exist on its surface.
How far away is Kepler-32 b?
Kepler-32 b is about 1,056 light-years from Earth in the constellation Cygnus. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 18,589,120 years to get there.
How big is Kepler-32 b compared to Earth?
Kepler-32 b has 2.20 times the radius of Earth and about 1,303 times its mass.
How long is a year on Kepler-32 b?
One orbit around Kepler-32 takes 5.9 Earth days — short enough that 62 of its years would fit into one Earth year.
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