Kepler-54 b
Kepler-54 b is a mini-Neptune orbiting Kepler-54 in the constellation Cygnus. It lies about 886 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2012 using the transit method.
How Big Is Kepler-54 b?
Kepler-54 b has a radius of 2.10 times that of Earth.
Is Kepler-54 b in the Habitable Zone?
The position of Kepler-54 b relative to the habitable zone of Kepler-54 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Habitable zone of Kepler-54: 0.168–0.431 AU (conservative: 0.212–0.408 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-54 b — one full orbit around Kepler-54 — lasts 8.01 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year.
How Was Kepler-54 b Discovered?
Kepler-54 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-54 b?
Kepler-54 b is 886.2 light-years (271.7 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet around the year 1140. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 15,597,120 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-54 b scores 0.34, ranking #820 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: Kepler-54
Kepler-54
- Surface temperature
- 3,705 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 0.51 M☉
- Radius
- 0.50 R☉
The Kepler-54 Planetary System
Kepler-54 b is one of 3 known planets in the Kepler-54 system. Its siblings:
- Kepler-54 c (Terrestrial)
- Kepler-54 d (Super Earth)
Kepler-54 b — Complete Data
| Radius | 2.100 Earth radii (0.187 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 8.01 days |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.34 |
| Distance from Earth | 886.2 light-years (271.7 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Cygnus |
| Discovery method | Transit |
| Discovery facility | Kepler |
| Discovery year | 2012 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2021-09-20. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About Kepler-54 b
Is Kepler-54 b habitable?
Kepler-54 b is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of Kepler-54, and as a mini-Neptune it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is Kepler-54 b?
Kepler-54 b is about 886 light-years from Earth in the constellation Cygnus. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 15,597,120 years to get there.
How big is Kepler-54 b compared to Earth?
Kepler-54 b has 2.10 times the radius of Earth.
How long is a year on Kepler-54 b?
One orbit around Kepler-54 takes 8.0 Earth days — short enough that 46 of its years would fit into one Earth year.
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