Kepler-472 b
Kepler-472 b is a sub-Neptune orbiting Kepler-472 in the constellation Cygnus. It lies about 1,000 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2016 using the transit method.
How Big Is Kepler-472 b?
Kepler-472 b has a radius of 3.22 times that of Earth.
Is Kepler-472 b in the Habitable Zone?
The position of Kepler-472 b relative to the habitable zone of Kepler-472 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Habitable zone of Kepler-472: 0.457–1.105 AU (conservative: 0.579–1.047 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-472 b — one full orbit around Kepler-472 — lasts 4.18 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year.
How Was Kepler-472 b Discovered?
Kepler-472 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-472 b?
Kepler-472 b is 1,000.0 light-years (306.6 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet around the year 1026. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 17,600,000 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-472 b scores 0.21, ranking #3,766 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: Kepler-472
Kepler-472
- Surface temperature
- 4,996 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 0.85 M☉
- Radius
- 0.78 R☉
- Age
- 2.7 billion years (Sun: 4.6)
Planetary System
Kepler-472 b is the only planet known to orbit Kepler-472 so far.
Kepler-472 b — Complete Data
| Radius | 3.220 Earth radii (0.287 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 4.18 days |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.21 |
| Distance from Earth | 1,000.0 light-years (306.6 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-472 b
Is Kepler-472 b habitable?
Kepler-472 b is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of Kepler-472, and as a sub-Neptune it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is Kepler-472 b?
Kepler-472 b is about 1,000 light-years from Earth in the constellation Cygnus. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 17,600,000 years to get there.
How big is Kepler-472 b compared to Earth?
Kepler-472 b has 3.22 times the radius of Earth.
How long is a year on Kepler-472 b?
One orbit around Kepler-472 takes 4.2 Earth days — short enough that 87 of its years would fit into one Earth year.
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