Kepler-36 b
Kepler-36 b is a super-Earth orbiting Kepler-36 in the constellation Cygnus. It lies about 1,722 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2012 using the transit method.
How Big Is Kepler-36 b?
Kepler-36 b has a radius of 1.50 times that of Earth. Its mass is 3.8 times that of Earth, giving it a density of 6.26 g/cm³ — comparable to rocky planets like Earth (5.51 g/cm³).
Is Kepler-36 b in the Habitable Zone?
The position of Kepler-36 b relative to the habitable zone of Kepler-36 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Habitable zone of Kepler-36: 1.297–3.041 AU (conservative: 1.643–2.883 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-36 b
Kepler-36 b receives 247 times the stellar energy that Earth gets from the Sun.
Orbit and Year Length
A year on Kepler-36 b — one full orbit around Kepler-36 — lasts 13.9 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year.
How Was Kepler-36 b Discovered?
Kepler-36 b was discovered in 2012 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-36 b?
Kepler-36 b is 1,722.0 light-years (528.0 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet about 1,722 years ago. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 30,307,200 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-36 b scores 0.28, ranking #2,090 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: Kepler-36
Kepler-36
- Surface temperature
- 5,979 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 1.03 M☉
- Radius
- 1.63 R☉
The Kepler-36 Planetary System
Kepler-36 b is one of 2 known planets in the Kepler-36 system. Its siblings:
- Kepler-36 c (Puffy Planet)
Kepler-36 b — Complete Data
| Radius | 1.498 Earth radii (0.134 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Mass | 3.83 Earth masses (0.012 Jupiter masses) |
| Density | 6.26 g/cm³ (Earth: 5.51) |
| Orbital period | 13.87 days |
| Stellar irradiation | 247.00× Earth |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.28 |
| Distance from Earth | 1,722.0 light-years (528.0 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Cygnus |
| Discovery method | Transit |
| Discovery facility | Kepler |
| Discovery year | 2012 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2020-05-04. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About Kepler-36 b
Is Kepler-36 b habitable?
Kepler-36 b is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of Kepler-36, and as a super-Earth it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is Kepler-36 b?
Kepler-36 b is about 1,722 light-years from Earth in the constellation Cygnus. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 30,307,200 years to get there.
How big is Kepler-36 b compared to Earth?
Kepler-36 b has 1.50 times the radius of Earth and about 3.8 times its mass.
How long is a year on Kepler-36 b?
One orbit around Kepler-36 takes 13.9 Earth days — short enough that 26 of its years would fit into one Earth year.
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