Kepler-60 b
Kepler-60 b is a super-Earth orbiting Kepler-60 in the constellation Lyra. It lies about 3,343 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2012 using the transit method.
How Big Is Kepler-60 b?
Kepler-60 b has a radius of 1.71 times that of Earth. Its mass is 4.2 times that of Earth, giving it a density of 4.62 g/cm³ — comparable to rocky planets like Earth (5.51 g/cm³).
Is Kepler-60 b in the Habitable Zone?
The position of Kepler-60 b relative to the habitable zone of Kepler-60 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Habitable zone of Kepler-60: 0.978–2.296 AU (conservative: 1.238–2.177 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 ›
Temperature on Kepler-60 b
Kepler-60 b receives 318 times the stellar energy that Earth gets from the Sun.
Orbit and Year Length
A year on Kepler-60 b — one full orbit around Kepler-60 — lasts 7.13 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year.
How Was Kepler-60 b Discovered?
Kepler-60 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-60 b?
Kepler-60 b is 3,343.4 light-years (1,025.1 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet about 3,343 years ago. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 58,843,840 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-60 b scores 0.27, ranking #2,545 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: Kepler-60
Kepler-60
- Surface temperature
- 5,905 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 1.04 M☉
- Radius
- 1.26 R☉
The Kepler-60 Planetary System
Kepler-60 b is one of 3 known planets in the Kepler-60 system. Its siblings:
- Kepler-60 c (Super Earth)
- Kepler-60 d (Mini Neptune)
Kepler-60 b — Complete Data
| Radius | 1.710 Earth radii (0.153 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Mass | 4.19 Earth masses (0.013 Jupiter masses) |
| Density | 4.62 g/cm³ (Earth: 5.51) |
| Orbital period | 7.13 days |
| Stellar irradiation | 318.00× Earth |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.27 |
| Distance from Earth | 3,343.4 light-years (1,025.1 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Lyra |
| Discovery method | Transit |
| Discovery facility | Kepler |
| Discovery year | 2012 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2016-04-13. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About Kepler-60 b
Is Kepler-60 b habitable?
Kepler-60 b is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of Kepler-60, and as a super-Earth it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is Kepler-60 b?
Kepler-60 b is about 3,343 light-years from Earth in the constellation Lyra. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 58,843,840 years to get there.
How big is Kepler-60 b compared to Earth?
Kepler-60 b has 1.71 times the radius of Earth and about 4.2 times its mass.
How long is a year on Kepler-60 b?
One orbit around Kepler-60 takes 7.1 Earth days — short enough that 51 of its years would fit into one Earth year.
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