Kepler-955 b
Kepler-955 b is a sub-Neptune orbiting Kepler-955 in the constellation Lyra. It lies about 1,795 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2016 using the transit method.
How Big Is Kepler-955 b?
Kepler-955 b has a radius of 3.13 times that of Earth.
Is Kepler-955 b in the Habitable Zone?
The position of Kepler-955 b relative to the habitable zone of Kepler-955 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Habitable zone of Kepler-955: 0.554–1.322 AU (conservative: 0.702–1.254 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-955 b — one full orbit around Kepler-955 — lasts 14.5 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year.
How Was Kepler-955 b Discovered?
Kepler-955 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-955 b?
Kepler-955 b is 1,795.1 light-years (550.4 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet about 1,795 years ago. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 31,593,760 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-955 b scores 0.24, ranking #3,292 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: Kepler-955
Kepler-955
- Surface temperature
- 5,350 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 0.89 M☉
- Radius
- 0.84 R☉
- Age
- 4.4 billion years (Sun: 4.6)
Planetary System
Kepler-955 b is the only planet known to orbit Kepler-955 so far.
Kepler-955 b — Complete Data
| Radius | 3.130 Earth radii (0.279 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 14.53 days |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.24 |
| Distance from Earth | 1,795.1 light-years (550.4 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-955 b
Is Kepler-955 b habitable?
Kepler-955 b is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of Kepler-955, and as a sub-Neptune it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is Kepler-955 b?
Kepler-955 b is about 1,795 light-years from Earth in the constellation Lyra. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 31,593,760 years to get there.
How big is Kepler-955 b compared to Earth?
Kepler-955 b has 3.13 times the radius of Earth.
How long is a year on Kepler-955 b?
One orbit around Kepler-955 takes 14.5 Earth days — short enough that 25 of its years would fit into one Earth year.