Kepler-462 b
Kepler-462 b is a super-Earth orbiting Kepler-462 in the constellation Cygnus. It lies about 1,946 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2016 using the transit method.
How Big Is Kepler-462 b?
Kepler-462 b has a radius of 3.00 times that of Earth. Its mass is 53.9 times that of Earth, giving it a density of 9.30 g/cm³ — comparable to rocky planets like Earth (5.51 g/cm³).
Is Kepler-462 b in the Habitable Zone?
The position of Kepler-462 b relative to the habitable zone of Kepler-462 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Orbit and Year Length
A year on Kepler-462 b — one full orbit around Kepler-462 — lasts 84.7 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year. Its orbit is nearly circular (eccentricity 0.042).
How Was Kepler-462 b Discovered?
Kepler-462 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-462 b?
Kepler-462 b is 1,945.9 light-years (596.6 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet about 1,946 years ago. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 34,247,840 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-462 b scores 0.23, ranking #3,424 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: Kepler-462
Kepler-462
- Surface temperature
- 7,500 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 1.59 M☉
- Radius
- 1.57 R☉
- Age
- 0.5 billion years (Sun: 4.6)
The Kepler-462 Planetary System
Kepler-462 b is one of 2 known planets in the Kepler-462 system. Its siblings:
- Kepler-462 c (Puffy Planet)
Kepler-462 b — Complete Data
| Radius | 3.000 Earth radii (0.268 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Mass | 53.90 Earth masses (0.170 Jupiter masses) |
| Density | 9.30 g/cm³ (Earth: 5.51) |
| Orbital period | 84.69 days |
| Eccentricity | 0.042 |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.23 |
| Distance from Earth | 1,945.9 light-years (596.6 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Cygnus |
| Discovery method | Transit |
| Discovery facility | Kepler |
| Discovery year | 2016 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2020-10-30. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About Kepler-462 b
Is Kepler-462 b habitable?
Kepler-462 b is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of Kepler-462, and as a super-Earth it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is Kepler-462 b?
Kepler-462 b is about 1,946 light-years from Earth in the constellation Cygnus. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 34,247,840 years to get there.
How big is Kepler-462 b compared to Earth?
Kepler-462 b has 3.00 times the radius of Earth and about 53.9 times its mass.
How long is a year on Kepler-462 b?
One orbit around Kepler-462 takes 84.7 Earth days.
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