Kepler-53 b
Kepler-53 b is a super-Earth orbiting Kepler-53 in the constellation Lyra. It lies about 4,456 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2012 using the transit method.
How Big Is Kepler-53 b?
Kepler-53 b has a radius of 2.89 times that of Earth. Its mass is 111 times that of Earth.
Is Kepler-53 b in the Habitable Zone?
The position of Kepler-53 b relative to the habitable zone of Kepler-53 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Habitable zone of Kepler-53: 0.783–1.830 AU (conservative: 0.991–1.735 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-53 b — one full orbit around Kepler-53 — lasts 18.6 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year.
How Was Kepler-53 b Discovered?
Kepler-53 b 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-53 b?
Kepler-53 b is 4,455.5 light-years (1,366.1 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet about 4,456 years ago. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 78,416,800 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-53 b scores 0.24, ranking #3,401 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: Kepler-53
Kepler-53
- Surface temperature
- 6,085 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Radius
- 0.96 R☉
The Kepler-53 Planetary System
Kepler-53 b is one of 3 known planets in the Kepler-53 system. Its siblings:
- Kepler-53 c (Super Earth)
- Kepler-53 d (Mini Neptune)
Kepler-53 b — Complete Data
| Radius | 2.890 Earth radii (0.258 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Mass | 111.00 Earth masses (0.349 Jupiter masses) |
| Orbital period | 18.65 days |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.24 |
| Distance from Earth | 4,455.5 light-years (1,366.1 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Lyra |
| Discovery method | Transit |
| Discovery facility | Kepler |
| Discovery year | 2012 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2021-09-22. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About Kepler-53 b
Is Kepler-53 b habitable?
Kepler-53 b is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of Kepler-53, and as a super-Earth it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is Kepler-53 b?
Kepler-53 b is about 4,456 light-years from Earth in the constellation Lyra. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 78,416,800 years to get there.
How big is Kepler-53 b compared to Earth?
Kepler-53 b has 2.89 times the radius of Earth and about 111 times its mass.
How long is a year on Kepler-53 b?
One orbit around Kepler-53 takes 18.6 Earth days — short enough that 20 of its years would fit into one Earth year.
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