Kepler-541 b
Kepler-541 b is a sub-Neptune orbiting Kepler-541 in the constellation Cygnus. It lies about 3,460 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2016 using the transit method.
How Big Is Kepler-541 b?
Kepler-541 b has a radius of 3.36 times that of Earth.
Is Kepler-541 b in the Habitable Zone?
The position of Kepler-541 b relative to the habitable zone of Kepler-541 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Habitable zone of Kepler-541: 1.719–4.015 AU (conservative: 2.178–3.806 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-541 b — one full orbit around Kepler-541 — lasts 5.08 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year.
How Was Kepler-541 b Discovered?
Kepler-541 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-541 b?
Kepler-541 b is 3,459.5 light-years (1,060.7 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet about 3,460 years ago. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 60,887,200 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-541 b scores 0.20, ranking #3,907 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: Kepler-541
Kepler-541
- Surface temperature
- 6,166 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 1.41 M☉
- Radius
- 2.06 R☉
- Age
- 3.1 billion years (Sun: 4.6)
Planetary System
Kepler-541 b is the only planet known to orbit Kepler-541 so far.
Kepler-541 b — Complete Data
| Radius | 3.360 Earth radii (0.300 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 5.08 days |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.20 |
| Distance from Earth | 3,459.5 light-years (1,060.7 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-541 b
Is Kepler-541 b habitable?
Kepler-541 b is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of Kepler-541, and as a sub-Neptune it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is Kepler-541 b?
Kepler-541 b is about 3,460 light-years from Earth in the constellation Cygnus. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 60,887,200 years to get there.
How big is Kepler-541 b compared to Earth?
Kepler-541 b has 3.36 times the radius of Earth.
How long is a year on Kepler-541 b?
One orbit around Kepler-541 takes 5.1 Earth days — short enough that 72 of its years would fit into one Earth year.