Kepler-879 b
Kepler-879 b is a mini-Neptune orbiting Kepler-879 in the constellation Cygnus. It lies about 2,618 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2016 using the transit method.
How Big Is Kepler-879 b?
Kepler-879 b has a radius of 2.57 times that of Earth.
Is Kepler-879 b in the Habitable Zone?
The position of Kepler-879 b relative to the habitable zone of Kepler-879 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Habitable zone of Kepler-879: 0.769–1.810 AU (conservative: 0.973–1.716 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-879 b — one full orbit around Kepler-879 — lasts 33.4 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year.
How Was Kepler-879 b Discovered?
Kepler-879 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-879 b?
Kepler-879 b is 2,618.0 light-years (802.7 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet about 2,618 years ago. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 46,076,800 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-879 b scores 0.27, ranking #2,461 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: Kepler-879
Kepler-879
- Surface temperature
- 5,792 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 1.02 M☉
- Radius
- 1.02 R☉
- Age
- 4.3 billion years (Sun: 4.6)
The Kepler-879 Planetary System
Kepler-879 b is one of 2 known planets in the Kepler-879 system. Its siblings:
- Kepler-879 c (Terrestrial)
Kepler-879 b — Complete Data
| Radius | 2.570 Earth radii (0.229 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 33.39 days |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.27 |
| Distance from Earth | 2,618.0 light-years (802.7 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-879 b
Is Kepler-879 b habitable?
Kepler-879 b is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of Kepler-879, and as a mini-Neptune it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is Kepler-879 b?
Kepler-879 b is about 2,618 light-years from Earth in the constellation Cygnus. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 46,076,800 years to get there.
How big is Kepler-879 b compared to Earth?
Kepler-879 b has 2.57 times the radius of Earth.
How long is a year on Kepler-879 b?
One orbit around Kepler-879 takes 33.4 Earth days — short enough that 11 of its years would fit into one Earth year.
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