Kepler-651 b
Kepler-651 b is a mini-Neptune orbiting Kepler-651 in the constellation Lyra. It lies about 1,662 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2016 using the transit method.
How Big Is Kepler-651 b?
Kepler-651 b has a radius of 2.37 times that of Earth.
Is Kepler-651 b in the Habitable Zone?
The position of Kepler-651 b relative to the habitable zone of Kepler-651 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Habitable zone of Kepler-651: 0.605–1.437 AU (conservative: 0.767–1.362 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-651 b — one full orbit around Kepler-651 — lasts 21.4 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year.
How Was Kepler-651 b Discovered?
Kepler-651 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-651 b?
Kepler-651 b is 1,661.5 light-years (509.4 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet about 1,662 years ago. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 29,242,400 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-651 b scores 0.28, ranking #2,202 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: Kepler-651
Kepler-651
- Surface temperature
- 5,522 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 0.92 M☉
- Radius
- 0.87 R☉
- Age
- 3.6 billion years (Sun: 4.6)
Planetary System
Kepler-651 b is the only planet known to orbit Kepler-651 so far.
Kepler-651 b — Complete Data
| Radius | 2.370 Earth radii (0.211 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 21.39 days |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.28 |
| Distance from Earth | 1,661.5 light-years (509.4 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Lyra |
| 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-651 b
Is Kepler-651 b habitable?
Kepler-651 b is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of Kepler-651, and as a mini-Neptune it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is Kepler-651 b?
Kepler-651 b is about 1,662 light-years from Earth in the constellation Lyra. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 29,242,400 years to get there.
How big is Kepler-651 b compared to Earth?
Kepler-651 b has 2.37 times the radius of Earth.
How long is a year on Kepler-651 b?
One orbit around Kepler-651 takes 21.4 Earth days — short enough that 17 of its years would fit into one Earth year.
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