Kepler-98 b
Kepler-98 b is a mini-Neptune orbiting Kepler-98 in the constellation Lyra. It lies about 1,143 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2014 using the transit method.
How Big Is Kepler-98 b?
Kepler-98 b has a radius of 1.99 times that of Earth. Its mass is 3.6 times that of Earth, giving it a density of 2.18 g/cm³ — between that of rocky and gaseous planets.
Is Kepler-98 b in the Habitable Zone?
The position of Kepler-98 b relative to the habitable zone of Kepler-98 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Habitable zone of Kepler-98: 0.776–1.842 AU (conservative: 0.983–1.746 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-98 b — one full orbit around Kepler-98 — lasts just 37.0 hours, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year.
How Was Kepler-98 b Discovered?
Kepler-98 b was discovered in 2014 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-98 b?
Kepler-98 b is 1,142.6 light-years (350.3 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet about 1,143 years ago. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 20,109,760 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-98 b scores 0.26, ranking #2,962 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: Kepler-98
Kepler-98
- Surface temperature
- 5,539 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 0.99 M☉
- Radius
- 1.11 R☉
- Age
- 2.8 billion years (Sun: 4.6)
Planetary System
Kepler-98 b is the only planet known to orbit Kepler-98 so far.
Kepler-98 b — Complete Data
| Radius | 1.990 Earth radii (0.178 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Mass | 3.55 Earth masses (0.011 Jupiter masses) |
| Density | 2.18 g/cm³ (Earth: 5.51) |
| Orbital period | 1.54 days |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.26 |
| Distance from Earth | 1,142.6 light-years (350.3 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Lyra |
| Discovery method | Transit |
| Discovery facility | Kepler |
| Discovery year | 2014 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2014-05-14. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About Kepler-98 b
Is Kepler-98 b habitable?
Kepler-98 b is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of Kepler-98, and as a mini-Neptune it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is Kepler-98 b?
Kepler-98 b is about 1,143 light-years from Earth in the constellation Lyra. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 20,109,760 years to get there.
How big is Kepler-98 b compared to Earth?
Kepler-98 b has 1.99 times the radius of Earth and about 3.6 times its mass.
How long is a year on Kepler-98 b?
One orbit around Kepler-98 takes 1.5 Earth days — short enough that 237 of its years would fit into one Earth year.
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