Kepler-798 b
Kepler-798 b is a mini-Neptune orbiting Kepler-798 in the constellation Cygnus. It lies about 3,171 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2016 using the transit method.
How Big Is Kepler-798 b?
Kepler-798 b has a radius of 2.39 times that of Earth.
Is Kepler-798 b in the Habitable Zone?
The position of Kepler-798 b relative to the habitable zone of Kepler-798 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Habitable zone of Kepler-798: 1.093–2.550 AU (conservative: 1.385–2.417 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-798 b — one full orbit around Kepler-798 — lasts 13.7 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year.
How Was Kepler-798 b Discovered?
Kepler-798 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-798 b?
Kepler-798 b is 3,171.1 light-years (972.3 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet about 3,171 years ago. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 55,811,360 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-798 b scores 0.25, ranking #3,175 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: Kepler-798
Kepler-798
- Surface temperature
- 6,224 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 1.19 M☉
- Radius
- 1.29 R☉
- Age
- 2.8 billion years (Sun: 4.6)
Planetary System
Kepler-798 b is the only planet known to orbit Kepler-798 so far.
Kepler-798 b — Complete Data
| Radius | 2.390 Earth radii (0.213 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 13.72 days |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.25 |
| Distance from Earth | 3,171.1 light-years (972.3 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Cygnus |
| 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-798 b
Is Kepler-798 b habitable?
Kepler-798 b is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of Kepler-798, and as a mini-Neptune it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is Kepler-798 b?
Kepler-798 b is about 3,171 light-years from Earth in the constellation Cygnus. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 55,811,360 years to get there.
How big is Kepler-798 b compared to Earth?
Kepler-798 b has 2.39 times the radius of Earth.
How long is a year on Kepler-798 b?
One orbit around Kepler-798 takes 13.7 Earth days — short enough that 27 of its years would fit into one Earth year.