Kepler-452 b
The parameters of this planet are disputed or ambiguous in the scientific literature.
Kepler-452 b is a super-Earth orbiting the G2 star Kepler-452 in the constellation Cygnus. It lies about 1,800 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2015 using the transit method. It orbits within the habitable zone of its star — the region where liquid water could exist on a planet's surface.
How Big Is Kepler-452 b?
Kepler-452 b has a radius of 1.63 times that of Earth.
Is Kepler-452 b in the Habitable Zone?
Kepler-452 b orbits within the optimistic habitable zone of Kepler-452 — the broader region where liquid water might be possible under favorable atmospheric conditions.
Habitable zone of Kepler-452: 0.828–1.952 AU (conservative: 1.049–1.851 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-452 b
The equilibrium temperature of Kepler-452 b is about 265 K (-8 °C) — in a range broadly comparable to Earth, whose equilibrium temperature is 255 K. This estimate ignores any atmosphere, which could change surface temperatures dramatically — Earth's greenhouse effect adds about 33 °C. It receives 1.10 times the stellar energy that Earth gets from the Sun.
Orbit and Year Length
A year on Kepler-452 b — one full orbit around Kepler-452 — lasts 384.8 Earth days, longer than an Earth year. It orbits at an average distance of 1.046 AU — comparable to the inner Solar System.
How Was Kepler-452 b Discovered?
Kepler-452 b was discovered in 2015 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-452 b?
Kepler-452 b is 1,799.5 light-years (551.7 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet about 1,800 years ago. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 31,671,200 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-452 b scores 0.83, ranking #20 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: Kepler-452
Kepler-452
- Spectral type
- G2
- Surface temperature
- 5,757 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 1.04 M☉
- Radius
- 1.11 R☉
- Age
- 6.0 billion years (Sun: 4.6)
Planetary System
Kepler-452 b is the only planet known to orbit Kepler-452 so far.
Kepler-452 b — Complete Data
| Radius | 1.630 Earth radii (0.145 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 384.84 days |
| Orbital distance | 1.046 AU |
| Equilibrium temperature | 265 K (-8 °C) |
| Stellar irradiation | 1.10× Earth |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.83 |
| Distance from Earth | 1,799.5 light-years (551.7 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Cygnus |
| Discovery method | Transit |
| Discovery facility | Kepler |
| Discovery year | 2015 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2015-07-21. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About Kepler-452 b
Is Kepler-452 b habitable?
Kepler-452 b orbits within the habitable zone of Kepler-452, the region where liquid water could exist on a planet's surface. Whether it is actually habitable depends on its atmosphere and composition, which remain unknown.
How far away is Kepler-452 b?
Kepler-452 b is about 1,800 light-years from Earth in the constellation Cygnus. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 31,671,200 years to get there.
How big is Kepler-452 b compared to Earth?
Kepler-452 b has 1.63 times the radius of Earth.
How long is a year on Kepler-452 b?
One orbit around Kepler-452 takes 384.8 Earth days.
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