Kepler-48 c
Kepler-48 c is a super-Earth orbiting Kepler-48 in the constellation Cygnus. It lies about 1,000 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2012 using the transit method.
How Big Is Kepler-48 c?
Kepler-48 c has a radius of 2.71 times that of Earth. Its mass is 14.6 times that of Earth, giving it a density of 4.01 g/cm³ — between that of rocky and gaseous planets.
Is Kepler-48 c in the Habitable Zone?
The position of Kepler-48 c relative to the habitable zone of Kepler-48 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Habitable zone of Kepler-48: 0.558–1.339 AU (conservative: 0.707–1.269 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-48 c — one full orbit around Kepler-48 — lasts 9.67 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year.
How Was Kepler-48 c Discovered?
Kepler-48 c was discovered in 2012 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-48 c?
Kepler-48 c is 1,000.4 light-years (306.7 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 17,607,040 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-48 c scores 0.24, ranking #3,318 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: Kepler-48
Kepler-48
- Surface temperature
- 5,194 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 0.88 M☉
- Radius
- 0.89 R☉
- Age
- 3.1 billion years (Sun: 4.6)
The Kepler-48 Planetary System
Kepler-48 c is one of 5 known planets in the Kepler-48 system. Its siblings:
- Kepler-48 b (Super Earth)
- Kepler-48 d (Super Earth)
- Kepler-48 e (Cold Gas Giant)
- Kepler-48 f (Cold Gas Giant)
Kepler-48 c — Complete Data
| Radius | 2.710 Earth radii (0.242 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Mass | 14.61 Earth masses (0.046 Jupiter masses) |
| Density | 4.01 g/cm³ (Earth: 5.51) |
| Orbital period | 9.67 days |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.24 |
| Distance from Earth | 1,000.4 light-years (306.7 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Cygnus |
| Discovery method | Transit |
| Discovery facility | Kepler |
| Discovery year | 2012 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2016-10-26. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About Kepler-48 c
Is Kepler-48 c habitable?
Kepler-48 c is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of Kepler-48, and as a super-Earth it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is Kepler-48 c?
Kepler-48 c 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 17,607,040 years to get there.
How big is Kepler-48 c compared to Earth?
Kepler-48 c has 2.71 times the radius of Earth and about 14.6 times its mass.
How long is a year on Kepler-48 c?
One orbit around Kepler-48 takes 9.7 Earth days — short enough that 38 of its years would fit into one Earth year.
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