Kepler-487 d
Kepler-487 d is a mini-Neptune orbiting Kepler-487 in the constellation Cygnus. It lies about 2,845 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2021 using the transit method.
How Big Is Kepler-487 d?
Kepler-487 d has a radius of 2.78 times that of Earth.
Is Kepler-487 d in the Habitable Zone?
The position of Kepler-487 d relative to the habitable zone of Kepler-487 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Habitable zone of Kepler-487: 0.598–1.422 AU (conservative: 0.757–1.349 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-487 d — one full orbit around Kepler-487 — lasts 2.42 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year.
How Was Kepler-487 d Discovered?
Kepler-487 d was discovered in 2021 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-487 d?
Kepler-487 d is 2,845.2 light-years (872.3 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet about 2,845 years ago. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 50,075,520 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-487 d scores 0.22, ranking #3,634 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: Kepler-487
Kepler-487
- Surface temperature
- 5,444 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 0.91 M☉
- Radius
- 0.88 R☉
- Age
- 5.6 billion years (Sun: 4.6)
The Kepler-487 Planetary System
Kepler-487 d is one of 3 known planets in the Kepler-487 system. Its siblings:
- Kepler-487 b (Cold Gas Giant)
- Kepler-487 c (Mini Neptune)
Kepler-487 d — Complete Data
| Radius | 2.775 Earth radii (0.248 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 2.42 days |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.22 |
| Distance from Earth | 2,845.2 light-years (872.3 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Cygnus |
| Discovery method | Transit |
| Discovery facility | Kepler |
| Discovery year | 2021 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2021-12-05. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About Kepler-487 d
Is Kepler-487 d habitable?
Kepler-487 d is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of Kepler-487, and as a mini-Neptune it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is Kepler-487 d?
Kepler-487 d is about 2,845 light-years from Earth in the constellation Cygnus. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 50,075,520 years to get there.
How big is Kepler-487 d compared to Earth?
Kepler-487 d has 2.78 times the radius of Earth.
How long is a year on Kepler-487 d?
One orbit around Kepler-487 takes 2.4 Earth days — short enough that 151 of its years would fit into one Earth year.
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