Kepler-656 b
Kepler-656 b is a sub-Neptune orbiting Kepler-656 in the constellation Lyra. It lies about 2,904 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2016 using the transit method.
How Big Is Kepler-656 b?
Kepler-656 b has a radius of 3.12 times that of Earth.
Is Kepler-656 b in the Habitable Zone?
The position of Kepler-656 b relative to the habitable zone of Kepler-656 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Habitable zone of Kepler-656: 0.670–1.588 AU (conservative: 0.848–1.505 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-656 b — one full orbit around Kepler-656 — lasts just 30.2 hours, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year.
How Was Kepler-656 b Discovered?
Kepler-656 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-656 b?
Kepler-656 b is 2,903.9 light-years (890.4 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet about 2,904 years ago. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 51,108,640 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-656 b scores 0.21, ranking #3,827 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: Kepler-656
Kepler-656
- Surface temperature
- 5,550 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 1.05 M☉
- Radius
- 0.95 R☉
The Kepler-656 Planetary System
Kepler-656 b is one of 2 known planets in the Kepler-656 system. Its siblings:
- Kepler-656 c (Super Earth)
Kepler-656 b — Complete Data
| Radius | 3.120 Earth radii (0.278 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 1.26 days |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.21 |
| Distance from Earth | 2,903.9 light-years (890.4 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-656 b
Is Kepler-656 b habitable?
Kepler-656 b is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of Kepler-656, and as a sub-Neptune it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is Kepler-656 b?
Kepler-656 b is about 2,904 light-years from Earth in the constellation Lyra. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 51,108,640 years to get there.
How big is Kepler-656 b compared to Earth?
Kepler-656 b has 3.12 times the radius of Earth.
How long is a year on Kepler-656 b?
One orbit around Kepler-656 takes 1.3 Earth days — short enough that 290 of its years would fit into one Earth year.
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