LkCa 15 b
The parameters of this planet are disputed or ambiguous in the scientific literature.
LkCa 15 b is a exoplanet orbiting LkCa 15 in the constellation Taurus. It lies about 516 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2015 using the imaging method.
Is LkCa 15 b in the Habitable Zone?
LkCa 15 b orbits beyond the outer edge of the habitable zone of LkCa 15. At that distance, any surface water would almost certainly be frozen.
Habitable zone of LkCa 15: 0.684–1.714 AU (conservative: 0.866–1.625 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
LkCa 15 b orbits at an average distance of 14.700 AU.
How Was LkCa 15 b Discovered?
LkCa 15 b was discovered in 2015 using the imaging method, with observations from Large Binocular Telescope Observatory.
Direct imaging captures actual pictures of a planet by blocking out the overwhelming glare of its host star. It works best for young, hot, massive planets on wide orbits.
How Far Away Is LkCa 15 b?
LkCa 15 b is 515.8 light-years (158.2 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet around the year 1511. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 9,078,080 years to make the journey.
The Host Star: LkCa 15
LkCa 15
- Surface temperature
- 4,194 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Radius
- 1.61 R☉
The LkCa 15 Planetary System
LkCa 15 b is one of 2 known planets in the LkCa 15 system. Its siblings:
LkCa 15 b — Complete Data
| Orbital distance | 14.700 AU |
|---|---|
| Distance from Earth | 515.8 light-years (158.2 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Taurus |
| Discovery method | Imaging |
| Discovery facility | Large Binocular Telescope Observatory |
| Discovery year | 2015 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2015-12-02. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About LkCa 15 b
Is LkCa 15 b habitable?
No — LkCa 15 b orbits outside the habitable zone of LkCa 15 and is likely too cold for liquid water on its surface.
How far away is LkCa 15 b?
LkCa 15 b is about 516 light-years from Earth in the constellation Taurus. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 9,078,080 years to get there.
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