Kepler-323 c
Kepler-323 c is a super-Earth orbiting Kepler-323 in the constellation Lyra. It lies about 1,484 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2014 using the transit method.
How Big Is Kepler-323 c?
Kepler-323 c has a radius of 1.57 times that of Earth. Its mass is 6.8 times that of Earth, giving it a density of 9.60 g/cm³ — comparable to rocky planets like Earth (5.51 g/cm³).
Is Kepler-323 c in the Habitable Zone?
Kepler-323 c orbits inside the inner edge of the habitable zone of Kepler-323. So close to its star, surface conditions are far too hot for liquid water.
Habitable zone of Kepler-323: 0.895–2.097 AU (conservative: 1.134–1.988 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-323 c
The equilibrium temperature of Kepler-323 c is about 1,431 K (1,158 °C) — hot enough to melt many metals. This estimate ignores any atmosphere, which could change surface temperatures dramatically — Earth's greenhouse effect adds about 33 °C. It receives 700 times the stellar energy that Earth gets from the Sun.
Orbit and Year Length
A year on Kepler-323 c — one full orbit around Kepler-323 — lasts 3.55 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year. It orbits at an average distance of 0.046 AU — closer to its star than Mercury is to the Sun. Its orbit is mildly elliptical (eccentricity 0.10).
How Was Kepler-323 c Discovered?
Kepler-323 c 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-323 c?
Kepler-323 c is 1,483.6 light-years (454.9 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet about 1,484 years ago. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 26,111,360 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-323 c scores 0.28, ranking #2,331 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: Kepler-323
Kepler-323
- Surface temperature
- 6,004 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 1.01 M☉
- Radius
- 1.12 R☉
- Age
- 5.4 billion years (Sun: 4.6)
The Kepler-323 Planetary System
Kepler-323 c is one of 2 known planets in the Kepler-323 system. Its siblings:
- Kepler-323 b (Lava World)
Kepler-323 c — Complete Data
| Radius | 1.570 Earth radii (0.140 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Mass | 6.80 Earth masses (0.021 Jupiter masses) |
| Density | 9.60 g/cm³ (Earth: 5.51) |
| Orbital period | 3.55 days |
| Orbital distance | 0.046 AU |
| Eccentricity | 0.095 |
| Equilibrium temperature | 1,431 K (1,158 °C) |
| Stellar irradiation | 700.00× Earth |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.28 |
| Distance from Earth | 1,483.6 light-years (454.9 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Lyra |
| Discovery method | Transit |
| Discovery facility | Kepler |
| Discovery year | 2014 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2023-04-17. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About Kepler-323 c
Is Kepler-323 c habitable?
No — Kepler-323 c orbits too close to its star and is too hot for liquid water to exist on its surface.
How far away is Kepler-323 c?
Kepler-323 c is about 1,484 light-years from Earth in the constellation Lyra. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 26,111,360 years to get there.
How big is Kepler-323 c compared to Earth?
Kepler-323 c has 1.57 times the radius of Earth and about 6.8 times its mass.
How long is a year on Kepler-323 c?
One orbit around Kepler-323 takes 3.6 Earth days — short enough that 103 of its years would fit into one Earth year.