Kepler-396 b
Kepler-396 b is a super-Earth orbiting Kepler-396 in the constellation Cygnus. It lies about 730 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2013 using the transit method.
How Big Is Kepler-396 b?
Kepler-396 b has a radius of 3.50 times that of Earth. Its mass is 75.5 times that of Earth.
Is Kepler-396 b in the Habitable Zone?
The position of Kepler-396 b relative to the habitable zone of Kepler-396 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Orbit and Year Length
A year on Kepler-396 b — one full orbit around Kepler-396 — lasts 43.0 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year.
How Was Kepler-396 b Discovered?
Kepler-396 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-396 b?
Kepler-396 b is 729.8 light-years (223.8 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet around the year 1297. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 12,844,480 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-396 b scores 0.28, ranking #2,418 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: Kepler-396
Kepler-396
- Mass
- 0.85 M☉
- Radius
- 1.06 R☉
The Kepler-396 Planetary System
Kepler-396 b is one of 2 known planets in the Kepler-396 system. Its siblings:
- Kepler-396 c (Neptune-like)
Kepler-396 b — Complete Data
| Radius | 3.500 Earth radii (0.312 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Mass | 75.50 Earth masses (0.238 Jupiter masses) |
| Orbital period | 42.99 days |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.28 |
| Distance from Earth | 729.8 light-years (223.8 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Cygnus |
| 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-396 b
Is Kepler-396 b habitable?
Kepler-396 b is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of Kepler-396, and as a super-Earth it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is Kepler-396 b?
Kepler-396 b is about 730 light-years from Earth in the constellation Cygnus. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 12,844,480 years to get there.
How big is Kepler-396 b compared to Earth?
Kepler-396 b has 3.50 times the radius of Earth and about 75.5 times its mass.
How long is a year on Kepler-396 b?
One orbit around Kepler-396 takes 43.0 Earth days.
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