Kepler-97 c
Kepler-97 c is a cold gas giant orbiting Kepler-97 in the constellation Cygnus. It lies about 1,308 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2014 using the radial velocity method.
Is Kepler-97 c in the Habitable Zone?
The position of Kepler-97 c relative to the habitable zone of Kepler-97 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Habitable zone of Kepler-97: 0.736–1.733 AU (conservative: 0.932–1.643 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-97 c — one full orbit around Kepler-97 — lasts 789.0 Earth days, longer than an Earth year.
How Was Kepler-97 c Discovered?
Kepler-97 c was discovered in 2014 using the radial velocity method, with observations from W. M. Keck Observatory.
The radial velocity method measures the subtle wobble of a star caused by the gravitational pull of an orbiting planet, visible as periodic shifts in the star's light spectrum. The size of the wobble reveals the planet's minimum mass.
How Far Away Is Kepler-97 c?
Kepler-97 c is 1,307.6 light-years (400.9 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet about 1,308 years ago. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 23,013,760 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-97 c scores 0.30, ranking #1,441 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: Kepler-97
Kepler-97
- Surface temperature
- 5,779 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 0.94 M☉
- Radius
- 0.98 R☉
- Age
- 8.4 billion years (Sun: 4.6)
The Kepler-97 Planetary System
Kepler-97 c is one of 2 known planets in the Kepler-97 system. Its siblings:
- Kepler-97 b (Super Earth)
Kepler-97 c — Complete Data
| Mass | 344.00 Earth masses (1.080 Jupiter masses) |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 789.00 days |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.30 |
| Distance from Earth | 1,307.6 light-years (400.9 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Cygnus |
| Discovery method | Radial Velocity |
| Discovery facility | W. M. Keck Observatory |
| Discovery year | 2014 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2014-05-14. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About Kepler-97 c
Is Kepler-97 c habitable?
Kepler-97 c is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of Kepler-97, and as a cold gas giant it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is Kepler-97 c?
Kepler-97 c is about 1,308 light-years from Earth in the constellation Cygnus. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 23,013,760 years to get there.
How long is a year on Kepler-97 c?
One orbit around Kepler-97 takes 789.0 Earth days.
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