Kepler-59 b
Kepler-59 b is a terrestrial planet orbiting Kepler-59 in the constellation Lyra. It lies about 3,794 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2012 using the transit method.
How Big Is Kepler-59 b?
Kepler-59 b has a radius of 1.10 times that of Earth.
Is Kepler-59 b in the Habitable Zone?
The position of Kepler-59 b relative to the habitable zone of Kepler-59 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Habitable zone of Kepler-59: 0.766–1.791 AU (conservative: 0.970–1.698 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-59 b — one full orbit around Kepler-59 — lasts 11.9 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year.
How Was Kepler-59 b Discovered?
Kepler-59 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-59 b?
Kepler-59 b is 3,793.9 light-years (1,163.2 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet about 3,794 years ago. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 66,772,640 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-59 b scores 0.30, ranking #1,395 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: Kepler-59
Kepler-59
- Surface temperature
- 6,074 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 1.04 M☉
- Radius
- 0.94 R☉
The Kepler-59 Planetary System
Kepler-59 b is one of 2 known planets in the Kepler-59 system. Its siblings:
- Kepler-59 c (Super Earth)
Kepler-59 b — Complete Data
| Radius | 1.100 Earth radii (0.098 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 11.87 days |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.30 |
| Distance from Earth | 3,793.9 light-years (1,163.2 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Lyra |
| 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-59 b
Is Kepler-59 b habitable?
Kepler-59 b is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of Kepler-59, and as a terrestrial planet it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is Kepler-59 b?
Kepler-59 b is about 3,794 light-years from Earth in the constellation Lyra. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 66,772,640 years to get there.
How big is Kepler-59 b compared to Earth?
Kepler-59 b has 1.10 times the radius of Earth.
How long is a year on Kepler-59 b?
One orbit around Kepler-59 takes 11.9 Earth days — short enough that 31 of its years would fit into one Earth year.
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