Kepler-687 b
Kepler-687 b is a sub-Neptune orbiting Kepler-687 in the constellation Lyra. It lies about 2,067 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2016 using the transit method.
How Big Is Kepler-687 b?
Kepler-687 b has a radius of 3.52 times that of Earth.
Is Kepler-687 b in the Habitable Zone?
The position of Kepler-687 b relative to the habitable zone of Kepler-687 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Habitable zone of Kepler-687: 0.404–0.984 AU (conservative: 0.512–0.933 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-687 b — one full orbit around Kepler-687 — lasts 20.5 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year.
How Was Kepler-687 b Discovered?
Kepler-687 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-687 b?
Kepler-687 b is 2,066.7 light-years (633.7 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet about 2,067 years ago. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 36,373,920 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-687 b scores 0.26, ranking #2,743 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: Kepler-687
Kepler-687
- Surface temperature
- 4,841 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 0.77 M☉
- Radius
- 0.73 R☉
- Age
- 5.5 billion years (Sun: 4.6)
Planetary System
Kepler-687 b is the only planet known to orbit Kepler-687 so far.
Kepler-687 b — Complete Data
| Radius | 3.520 Earth radii (0.314 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 20.51 days |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.26 |
| Distance from Earth | 2,066.7 light-years (633.7 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-687 b
Is Kepler-687 b habitable?
Kepler-687 b is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of Kepler-687, and as a sub-Neptune it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is Kepler-687 b?
Kepler-687 b is about 2,067 light-years from Earth in the constellation Lyra. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 36,373,920 years to get there.
How big is Kepler-687 b compared to Earth?
Kepler-687 b has 3.52 times the radius of Earth.
How long is a year on Kepler-687 b?
One orbit around Kepler-687 takes 20.5 Earth days — short enough that 18 of its years would fit into one Earth year.
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