Kepler-968 b
Kepler-968 b is a super-Earth orbiting Kepler-968 in the constellation Draco. It lies about 947 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2016 using the transit method.
How Big Is Kepler-968 b?
Kepler-968 b has a radius of 2.00 times that of Earth.
Is Kepler-968 b in the Habitable Zone?
The position of Kepler-968 b relative to the habitable zone of Kepler-968 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Habitable zone of Kepler-968: 0.353–0.869 AU (conservative: 0.447–0.824 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-968 b — one full orbit around Kepler-968 — lasts 3.69 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year.
How Was Kepler-968 b Discovered?
Kepler-968 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-968 b?
Kepler-968 b is 946.9 light-years (290.3 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet around the year 1080. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 16,665,440 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-968 b scores 0.27, ranking #2,709 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: Kepler-968
Kepler-968
- Surface temperature
- 4,598 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 0.76 M☉
- Radius
- 0.70 R☉
- Age
- 2.1 billion years (Sun: 4.6)
The Kepler-968 Planetary System
Kepler-968 b is one of 3 known planets in the Kepler-968 system. Its siblings:
- KOI-1833 d (Super Earth)
- Kepler-968 c (Super Earth)
Kepler-968 b — Complete Data
| Radius | 2.000 Earth radii (0.178 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 3.69 days |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.27 |
| Distance from Earth | 946.9 light-years (290.3 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Draco |
| 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-968 b
Is Kepler-968 b habitable?
Kepler-968 b is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of Kepler-968, and as a super-Earth it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is Kepler-968 b?
Kepler-968 b is about 947 light-years from Earth in the constellation Draco. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 16,665,440 years to get there.
How big is Kepler-968 b compared to Earth?
Kepler-968 b has 2.00 times the radius of Earth.
How long is a year on Kepler-968 b?
One orbit around Kepler-968 takes 3.7 Earth days — short enough that 99 of its years would fit into one Earth year.
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