KIC 8540376 b
KIC 8540376 b is a Neptune-like planet orbiting KOI-7892 in the constellation Lyra. It lies about 3,497 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2015 using the transit method.
How Big Is KIC 8540376 b?
KIC 8540376 b has a radius of 4.10 times that of Earth.
Is KIC 8540376 b in the Habitable Zone?
The position of KIC 8540376 b relative to the habitable zone of KOI-7892 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Habitable zone of KOI-7892: 1.138–2.643 AU (conservative: 1.442–2.506 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 KIC 8540376 b — one full orbit around KOI-7892 — lasts 31.8 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year.
How Was KIC 8540376 b Discovered?
KIC 8540376 b was discovered in 2015 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 KIC 8540376 b?
KIC 8540376 b is 3,497.4 light-years (1,072.3 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet about 3,497 years ago. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 61,554,240 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. KIC 8540376 b scores 0.20, ranking #3,899 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: KOI-7892
KOI-7892
- Surface temperature
- 6,474 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 1.04 M☉
- Radius
- 1.26 R☉
The KOI-7892 Planetary System
KIC 8540376 b is one of 3 known planets in the KOI-7892 system. Its siblings:
- KIC 8540376 c (Mini Neptune)
- Kepler-457 d (Mini Neptune)
KIC 8540376 b — Complete Data
| Radius | 4.100 Earth radii (0.366 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 31.81 days |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.20 |
| Distance from Earth | 3,497.4 light-years (1,072.3 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Lyra |
| Discovery method | Transit |
| Discovery facility | Kepler |
| Discovery year | 2015 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2015-12-24. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About KIC 8540376 b
Is KIC 8540376 b habitable?
KIC 8540376 b is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of KOI-7892, and as a Neptune-like planet it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is KIC 8540376 b?
KIC 8540376 b is about 3,497 light-years from Earth in the constellation Lyra. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 61,554,240 years to get there.
How big is KIC 8540376 b compared to Earth?
KIC 8540376 b has 4.10 times the radius of Earth.
How long is a year on KIC 8540376 b?
One orbit around KOI-7892 takes 31.8 Earth days — short enough that 11 of its years would fit into one Earth year.
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