Kepler-50 c
The parameters of this planet are disputed or ambiguous in the scientific literature.
Kepler-50 c is a mini-Neptune orbiting Kepler-50 in the constellation Cygnus. It lies about 816 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2012 using the transit method.
How Big Is Kepler-50 c?
Kepler-50 c has a radius of 2.17 times that of Earth.
Is Kepler-50 c in the Habitable Zone?
Kepler-50 c orbits inside the inner edge of the habitable zone of Kepler-50. So close to its star, surface conditions are far too hot for liquid water.
Habitable zone of Kepler-50: 1.339–3.124 AU (conservative: 1.696–2.961 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-50 c — one full orbit around Kepler-50 — lasts 9.38 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year. It orbits at an average distance of 0.087 AU — closer to its star than Mercury is to the Sun.
How Was Kepler-50 c Discovered?
Kepler-50 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-50 c?
Kepler-50 c is 815.7 light-years (250.1 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet around the year 1211. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 14,356,320 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-50 c scores 0.25, ranking #3,120 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: Kepler-50
Kepler-50
- Surface temperature
- 6,225 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 1.24 M☉
- Radius
- 1.58 R☉
- Age
- 3.8 billion years (Sun: 4.6)
The Kepler-50 Planetary System
Kepler-50 c is one of 2 known planets in the Kepler-50 system. Its siblings:
- Kepler-50 b (Super Earth)
Kepler-50 c — Complete Data
| Radius | 2.170 Earth radii (0.194 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 9.38 days |
| Orbital distance | 0.087 AU |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.25 |
| Distance from Earth | 815.7 light-years (250.1 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Cygnus |
| Discovery method | Transit |
| Discovery facility | Kepler |
| Discovery year | 2012 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2014-05-14. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About Kepler-50 c
Is Kepler-50 c habitable?
No — Kepler-50 c orbits too close to its star and is too hot for liquid water to exist on its surface.
How far away is Kepler-50 c?
Kepler-50 c is about 816 light-years from Earth in the constellation Cygnus. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 14,356,320 years to get there.
How big is Kepler-50 c compared to Earth?
Kepler-50 c has 2.17 times the radius of Earth.
How long is a year on Kepler-50 c?
One orbit around Kepler-50 takes 9.4 Earth days — short enough that 39 of its years would fit into one Earth year.
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