Kepler-49 c
Kepler-49 c is a super-Earth orbiting Kepler-49 in the constellation Cygnus. It lies about 1,015 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2012 using the transit method.
How Big Is Kepler-49 c?
Kepler-49 c has a radius of 2.44 times that of Earth. Its mass is 8.4 times that of Earth, giving it a density of 3.11 g/cm³ — between that of rocky and gaseous planets.
Is Kepler-49 c in the Habitable Zone?
The position of Kepler-49 c relative to the habitable zone of Kepler-49 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Habitable zone of Kepler-49: 0.251–0.633 AU (conservative: 0.318–0.600 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-49 c — one full orbit around Kepler-49 — lasts 10.9 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year. Its orbit is nearly circular (eccentricity 0.008).
How Was Kepler-49 c Discovered?
Kepler-49 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-49 c?
Kepler-49 c is 1,015.1 light-years (311.2 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet around the year 1011. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 17,865,760 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-49 c scores 0.33, ranking #960 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: Kepler-49
Kepler-49
- Surface temperature
- 4,096 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 0.61 M☉
- Radius
- 0.62 R☉
The Kepler-49 Planetary System
Kepler-49 c is one of 4 known planets in the Kepler-49 system. Its siblings:
- Kepler-49 b (Super Earth)
- Kepler-49 d (Super Earth)
- Kepler-49 e (Super Earth)
Kepler-49 c — Complete Data
| Radius | 2.444 Earth radii (0.218 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Mass | 8.38 Earth masses (0.026 Jupiter masses) |
| Density | 3.11 g/cm³ (Earth: 5.51) |
| Orbital period | 10.91 days |
| Eccentricity | 0.008 |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.33 |
| Distance from Earth | 1,015.1 light-years (311.2 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Cygnus |
| Discovery method | Transit |
| Discovery facility | Kepler |
| Discovery year | 2012 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2024-06-10. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About Kepler-49 c
Is Kepler-49 c habitable?
Kepler-49 c is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of Kepler-49, and as a super-Earth it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is Kepler-49 c?
Kepler-49 c is about 1,015 light-years from Earth in the constellation Cygnus. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 17,865,760 years to get there.
How big is Kepler-49 c compared to Earth?
Kepler-49 c has 2.44 times the radius of Earth and about 8.4 times its mass.
How long is a year on Kepler-49 c?
One orbit around Kepler-49 takes 10.9 Earth days — short enough that 33 of its years would fit into one Earth year.