Kepler-36 c
Kepler-36 c is a puffy low-density planet 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 c?
Kepler-36 c has a radius of 3.68 times that of Earth. Its mass is 7.1 times that of Earth, giving it a density of 0.79 g/cm³ — closer to gas planets like Jupiter (1.33 g/cm³).
Is Kepler-36 c in the Habitable Zone?
The position of Kepler-36 c 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 c
Kepler-36 c receives 191 times the stellar energy that Earth gets from the Sun.
Orbit and Year Length
A year on Kepler-36 c — one full orbit around Kepler-36 — lasts 16.2 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year.
How Was Kepler-36 c Discovered?
Kepler-36 c 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 c?
Kepler-36 c 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 c scores 0.19, ranking #3,960 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 c is one of 2 known planets in the Kepler-36 system. Its siblings:
- Kepler-36 b (Super Earth)
Kepler-36 c — Complete Data
| Radius | 3.679 Earth radii (0.328 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Mass | 7.13 Earth masses (0.022 Jupiter masses) |
| Density | 0.79 g/cm³ (Earth: 5.51) |
| Orbital period | 16.22 days |
| Stellar irradiation | 191.00× Earth |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.19 |
| 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 2020-05-01. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About Kepler-36 c
Is Kepler-36 c habitable?
Kepler-36 c is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of Kepler-36, and as a puffy low-density planet it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is Kepler-36 c?
Kepler-36 c 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 c compared to Earth?
Kepler-36 c has 3.68 times the radius of Earth and about 7.1 times its mass.
How long is a year on Kepler-36 c?
One orbit around Kepler-36 takes 16.2 Earth days — short enough that 23 of its years would fit into one Earth year.
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