Kepler-451 c
Kepler-451 c is a cold gas giant orbiting 2MASS J19383260+4603591 in the constellation Cygnus. It lies about 1,293 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2022 using the eclipse timing variations method.
Is Kepler-451 c in the Habitable Zone?
The position of Kepler-451 c relative to the habitable zone of 2MASS J19383260+4603591 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Orbit and Year Length
A year on Kepler-451 c — one full orbit around 2MASS J19383260+4603591 — lasts 1,460.0 Earth days, longer than an Earth year. Its orbit is mildly elliptical (eccentricity 0.29).
How Was Kepler-451 c Discovered?
Kepler-451 c was discovered in 2022 using the eclipse timing variations method, with observations from Multiple Observatories.
Eclipse timing variations detect a planet orbiting an eclipsing pair of stars: the planet's gravity shifts the precise moments when the stars eclipse each other.
How Far Away Is Kepler-451 c?
Kepler-451 c is 1,292.7 light-years (396.3 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet about 1,293 years ago. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 22,751,520 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-451 c scores 0.18, ranking #4,014 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: 2MASS J19383260+4603591
Kepler-451 c is a circumbinary planet — it orbits around two stars at once, like Tatooine in Star Wars.
2MASS J19383260+4603591
- Surface temperature
- 29,564 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 0.48 M☉
- Radius
- 0.20 R☉
The 2MASS J19383260+4603591 Planetary System
Kepler-451 c is one of 3 known planets in the 2MASS J19383260+4603591 system. Its siblings:
- 2MASS J19383260+4603591 b (Cold Gas Giant)
- Kepler-451 d (Cold Gas Giant)
Kepler-451 c — Complete Data
| Mass (best estimate) | 511.70 Earth masses |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 1,460.00 days |
| Eccentricity | 0.290 |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.18 |
| Distance from Earth | 1,292.7 light-years (396.3 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Cygnus |
| Discovery method | Eclipse Timing Variations |
| Discovery facility | Multiple Observatories |
| Discovery year | 2022 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2022-04-19. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About Kepler-451 c
Is Kepler-451 c habitable?
Kepler-451 c is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of 2MASS J19383260+4603591, and as a cold gas giant it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is Kepler-451 c?
Kepler-451 c is about 1,293 light-years from Earth in the constellation Cygnus. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 22,751,520 years to get there.
How long is a year on Kepler-451 c?
One orbit around 2MASS J19383260+4603591 takes 1,460.0 Earth days.
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