Kepler-540 b
Kepler-540 b is a mini-Neptune orbiting Kepler-540 in the constellation Cygnus. It lies about 1,273 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2016 using the transit method.
How Big Is Kepler-540 b?
Kepler-540 b has a radius of 2.71 times that of Earth.
Is Kepler-540 b in the Habitable Zone?
The position of Kepler-540 b relative to the habitable zone of Kepler-540 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Habitable zone of Kepler-540: 0.850–1.993 AU (conservative: 1.076–1.890 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-540 b — one full orbit around Kepler-540 — lasts 172.7 Earth days, between the years of Mercury (88 days) and Earth (365 days).
How Was Kepler-540 b Discovered?
Kepler-540 b was discovered in 2016 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-540 b?
Kepler-540 b is 1,273.2 light-years (390.4 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet about 1,273 years ago. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 22,408,320 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-540 b scores 0.44, ranking #363 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: Kepler-540
Kepler-540
- Surface temperature
- 5,946 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 1.02 M☉
- Radius
- 1.08 R☉
- Age
- 4.9 billion years (Sun: 4.6)
Planetary System
Kepler-540 b is the only planet known to orbit Kepler-540 so far.
Kepler-540 b — Complete Data
| Radius | 2.710 Earth radii (0.242 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 172.70 days |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.44 |
| Distance from Earth | 1,273.2 light-years (390.4 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Cygnus |
| Discovery method | Transit |
| Discovery facility | Kepler |
| Discovery year | 2016 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2016-05-06. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About Kepler-540 b
Is Kepler-540 b habitable?
Kepler-540 b is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of Kepler-540, and as a mini-Neptune it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is Kepler-540 b?
Kepler-540 b is about 1,273 light-years from Earth in the constellation Cygnus. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 22,408,320 years to get there.
How big is Kepler-540 b compared to Earth?
Kepler-540 b has 2.71 times the radius of Earth.
How long is a year on Kepler-540 b?
One orbit around Kepler-540 takes 172.7 Earth days.
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