Kepler-949 c
Kepler-949 c is a mini-Neptune orbiting Kepler-949 in the constellation Cygnus. It lies about 1,586 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2023 using the transit method.
How Big Is Kepler-949 c?
Kepler-949 c has a radius of 2.97 times that of Earth.
Is Kepler-949 c in the Habitable Zone?
Kepler-949 c orbits inside the inner edge of the habitable zone of Kepler-949. So close to its star, surface conditions are far too hot for liquid water.
Habitable zone of Kepler-949: 0.577–1.374 AU (conservative: 0.731–1.303 AU), per Kopparapu et al. (2014). Earth orbits the Sun at 1 AU.
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Temperature on Kepler-949 c
The equilibrium temperature of Kepler-949 c is about 582 K (309 °C) — hotter than anywhere on Earth. This estimate ignores any atmosphere, which could change surface temperatures dramatically — Earth's greenhouse effect adds about 33 °C. It receives 27.20 times the stellar energy that Earth gets from the Sun.
Orbit and Year Length
A year on Kepler-949 c — one full orbit around Kepler-949 — lasts 21.0 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year. It orbits at an average distance of 0.139 AU — closer to its star than Mercury is to the Sun.
How Was Kepler-949 c Discovered?
Kepler-949 c was discovered in 2023 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-949 c?
Kepler-949 c is 1,585.5 light-years (486.1 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet about 1,586 years ago. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 27,904,800 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-949 c scores 0.27, ranking #2,444 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: Kepler-949
Kepler-949
- Surface temperature
- 5,403 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 0.89 M☉
- Radius
- 0.86 R☉
- Age
- 4.6 billion years (Sun: 4.6)
The Kepler-949 Planetary System
Kepler-949 c is one of 2 known planets in the Kepler-949 system. Its siblings:
- Kepler-949 b (Mini Neptune)
Kepler-949 c — Complete Data
| Radius | 2.970 Earth radii (0.265 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 21.00 days |
| Orbital distance | 0.139 AU |
| Equilibrium temperature | 582 K (309 °C) |
| Stellar irradiation | 27.20× Earth |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.27 |
| Distance from Earth | 1,585.5 light-years (486.1 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Cygnus |
| Discovery method | Transit |
| Discovery facility | Kepler |
| Discovery year | 2023 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2017-05-08. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About Kepler-949 c
Is Kepler-949 c habitable?
No — Kepler-949 c orbits too close to its star and is too hot for liquid water to exist on its surface.
How far away is Kepler-949 c?
Kepler-949 c is about 1,586 light-years from Earth in the constellation Cygnus. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 27,904,800 years to get there.
How big is Kepler-949 c compared to Earth?
Kepler-949 c has 2.97 times the radius of Earth.
How long is a year on Kepler-949 c?
One orbit around Kepler-949 takes 21.0 Earth days — short enough that 17 of its years would fit into one Earth year.
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