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Kepler-562 b

Neptune-like Cygnus

Kepler-562 b is a Neptune-like planet orbiting Kepler-562 in the constellation Cygnus. It lies about 3,238 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2016 using the transit method.

5.21×Earth radius
18 dOrbital period
0.17Earth similarity
3,238 lyDistance
2016Discovered

How Big Is Kepler-562 b?

Earth1.00 R⊕Kepler-562 b5.21 R⊕Jupiter11.21 R⊕
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Kepler-562 b has a radius of 5.21 times that of Earth.

Is Kepler-562 b in the Habitable Zone?

The position of Kepler-562 b relative to the habitable zone of Kepler-562 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.

Too hot Optimistic habitable zone Conservative habitable zone Too cold

Habitable zone of Kepler-562: 0.636–1.508 AU (conservative: 0.806–1.430 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-562 b — one full orbit around Kepler-562 — lasts 18.0 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year.

How Was Kepler-562 b Discovered?

Kepler-562 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-562 b?

Kepler-562 b is 3,238.0 light-years (992.8 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet about 3,238 years ago. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 56,988,800 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-562 b scores 0.17, ranking #4,112 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.

The Host Star: Kepler-562

Kepler-562

Surface temperature
5,575 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
Mass
0.93 M☉
Radius
0.90 R☉
Age
4.6 billion years (Sun: 4.6)

Planetary System

Kepler-562 b is the only planet known to orbit Kepler-562 so far.

Kepler-562 b — Complete Data

Radius5.210 Earth radii (0.465 Jupiter radii)
Orbital period18.01 days
Earth Similarity Index0.17
Distance from Earth3,238.0 light-years (992.8 parsecs)
ConstellationCygnus
Discovery methodTransit
Discovery facilityKepler
Discovery year2016

Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2016-05-06. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.

Frequently Asked Questions About Kepler-562 b

Is Kepler-562 b habitable?

Kepler-562 b is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of Kepler-562, and as a Neptune-like planet it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.

How far away is Kepler-562 b?

Kepler-562 b is about 3,238 light-years from Earth in the constellation Cygnus. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 56,988,800 years to get there.

How big is Kepler-562 b compared to Earth?

Kepler-562 b has 5.21 times the radius of Earth.

How long is a year on Kepler-562 b?

One orbit around Kepler-562 takes 18.0 Earth days — short enough that 20 of its years would fit into one Earth year.

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