The Kepler-26 System
Kepler-26 is a planetary system in the constellation Lyra hosting 4 confirmed exoplanets, about 1,094 light-years from Earth. One of its planets orbits within the habitable zone, where liquid water could exist on a planetary surface.
Size Comparison: The Planets of Kepler-26
Kepler-26: Star and Habitable Zone
Kepler-26
- Surface temperature
- 3,914 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 0.54 M☉
- Radius
- 0.51 R☉
Habitable zone of Kepler-26: 0.191–0.485 AU (conservative: 0.242–0.460 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 ›
All 4 Planets in the Kepler-26 System
| Planet | Type | Orbit | Radius | ESI | Discovered |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kepler-26 b | Puffy Planet | 12 d | 2.78 R⊕ | 0.32 | 2011 |
| Kepler-26 c | Mini Neptune | 17 d | 2.72 R⊕ | 0.37 | 2011 |
| Kepler-26 d | Terrestrial | 3.5 d | 1.07 R⊕ | 0.32 | 2014 |
| Kepler-26 e HZ | Mini Neptune | 47 d | 2.41 R⊕ | 0.64 | 2014 |
Discovery History
The first planet found here, Kepler-26 b, was discovered in 2011 using the transit method. The most recent addition, Kepler-26 e, followed in 2014.
- 2011 — Kepler-26 b (Transit)
- 2011 — Kepler-26 c (Transit)
- 2014 — Kepler-26 d (Transit)
- 2014 — Kepler-26 e (Transit)
Frequently Asked Questions About Kepler-26
How many planets does Kepler-26 have?
Kepler-26 has 4 confirmed exoplanets. More may await discovery.
Are any planets in the Kepler-26 system habitable?
One planet in the system orbits within the habitable zone, where liquid water could exist. Actual habitability depends on atmospheres and composition, which are not yet known.
How far away is Kepler-26?
Kepler-26 is about 1,094 light-years from Earth in the constellation Lyra.
Explore the Kepler-26 system in the app
Browse, filter and compare 6,000+ exoplanets on iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch — with habitable-zone views, widgets and offline data.
