Kepler-461 b
Kepler-461 b is a mini-Neptune orbiting Kepler-461 in the constellation Cygnus. It lies about 2,258 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2016 using the transit method.
How Big Is Kepler-461 b?
Kepler-461 b has a radius of 2.58 times that of Earth.
Is Kepler-461 b in the Habitable Zone?
The position of Kepler-461 b relative to the habitable zone of Kepler-461 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Habitable zone of Kepler-461: 0.655–1.549 AU (conservative: 0.830–1.469 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 ›
Orbit and Year Length
A year on Kepler-461 b — one full orbit around Kepler-461 — lasts 8.31 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year.
How Was Kepler-461 b Discovered?
Kepler-461 b was discovered in 2016 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-461 b?
Kepler-461 b is 2,257.5 light-years (692.2 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet about 2,258 years ago. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 39,732,000 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-461 b scores 0.23, ranking #3,481 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: Kepler-461
Kepler-461
- Surface temperature
- 5,634 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 0.98 M☉
- Radius
- 0.91 R☉
- Age
- 2.5 billion years (Sun: 4.6)
Planetary System
Kepler-461 b is the only planet known to orbit Kepler-461 so far.
Kepler-461 b — Complete Data
| Radius | 2.580 Earth radii (0.230 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 8.31 days |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.23 |
| Distance from Earth | 2,257.5 light-years (692.2 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Cygnus |
| Discovery method | Transit |
| Discovery facility | Kepler |
| Discovery year | 2016 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2016-05-06. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About Kepler-461 b
Is Kepler-461 b habitable?
Kepler-461 b is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of Kepler-461, and as a mini-Neptune it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is Kepler-461 b?
Kepler-461 b is about 2,258 light-years from Earth in the constellation Cygnus. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 39,732,000 years to get there.
How big is Kepler-461 b compared to Earth?
Kepler-461 b has 2.58 times the radius of Earth.
How long is a year on Kepler-461 b?
One orbit around Kepler-461 takes 8.3 Earth days — short enough that 44 of its years would fit into one Earth year.
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