Host star — Kepler-62
- Spectral type
- K2 V
- Temperature
- 4,925 K
- Radius
- 0.64 R☉
- Mass
- 0.69 M☉
- Luminosity
- 0.210 L☉
- Distance
- 300.9 pc (981 ly)
Orange dwarf, cooler and longer-lived than the Sun.
Cooler than the Sun. Orange or red dwarf.
Kepler-62 e
Orbits Kepler-62 · 981 light-years from Earth
Super-EarthTransit2013ESI 85 · Very Earth-like
Radius
1.61×
Earth
Mass
36.0×
Earth
Year
122d
Temp
270 K
-3°C
Gravity
13.9×
Earth
Distance
981
ly
Could life exist here?
AI analysisKepler-62 e is a super-Earth with 1.61 times Earth's radius orbiting a small, cool K-type star 981 light-years away. Its equilibrium temperature of 270 Kelvin places it near Earth's mean surface temperature, and its circular orbit suggests stable conditions for potential habitability. However, the planet's estimated mass of 36 Earth masses indicates a much denser composition than Earth, likely resulting in higher surface gravity and possibly a thick atmosphere that could trap heat or create extreme pressure. The star itself is dimmer than our Sun, so despite the planet's close 0.427 astronomical unit orbit, it receives a moderate energy flux. While these conditions theoretically permit liquid water, the actual atmospheric composition, interior heat, and magnetic field—all unknown—would critically determine whether this world could support life. Kepler-62 e's high habitability score of 85 reflects its balanced position in the habitable zone, making it one of the most intriguing super-Earth candidates discovered by the Kepler mission.
What it would be like
Kepler-62 e is a super-Earth — larger than our planet but likely still rocky or ice-rich. Whether it has a thin atmosphere like Mars or a crushing one like Venus remains unknown.
At 13.9g, gravity is crushing by Earth standards. Walking would feel like carrying a 902 kg backpack permanently.
With an equilibrium temperature around -3°C, this planet sits in the temperature range where liquid water could potentially exist on the surface — a key ingredient for life as we know it.
An orbital period of 122 days makes the year 3.0× shorter than Earth's. You'd celebrate your birthday more often here.
Earth comparison
Logarithmic bars so Jupiter-class planets fit the same scale as Earth-size worlds.
Radius1.61R⊕
1/25×Earth = 125×
Mass36M⊕
1/10000×Earth = 110000×
Surface gravity14g
1/100×Earth = 1100×
Equilibrium temp270 K(-3°C)
0 KEarth 255 K2500 K
Side-by-side with Earth
Temperature in context
Liquid N₂Mars avgEarth eq.Earth sfc.Boiling H₂OVenus
Discovery & orbit
- Method
- Transit
- Year
- 2013
- Facility
- Kepler
- Semi-major axis
- 0.4270 AU
- Period
- 122.39 days
- Eccentricity
- 0.0000
- Density
- —
Detected by measuring the tiny dip in starlight as the planet crosses in front of its star.
Nearly circular orbit.
Discovered via · Transit
Tiny dip in starlight as the planet crosses in front of its star
A transit photometer watches a star nonstop and measures its brightness to ~0.01%. When a planet passes between us and the star, the star dims briefly — the deeper the dip, the bigger the planet. This is how Kepler and TESS found most known exoplanets.
- Overall share
- ~75% of all confirmed worlds
- Best for
- Earth-to-Neptune-sized planets on short orbits
Orbital Animation
Kepler-62Kepler-62 eOrbitEarth orbitHabitable zone
Drag to rotate · scroll to zoomSemi-major axis: 0.427 AUEccentricity: 0.0000Period: 122.4 days
Hertzsprung–Russell Diagram
Where this host star sits among … exoplanet host stars. The main sequence band runs diagonally — giants and supergiants sit above, white dwarfs below.
OBAFGKMCurrent star
How far is 981 light-years?
- A light beam leaving Earth right now would arrive in 981 years.
- At Voyager 1's speed (17 km/s), the trip would take approximately 17.3 million years.
- A radio signal sent today would arrive in 981.3 years — and the reply wouldn't come back for twice that.
Earth Similarity Index
85/1000 — Nothing like Earth100 — Identical to Earth
ESI combines radius similarity and equilibrium temperature similarity. Earth = 100. Mars ≈ 73. Venus ≈ 44. This score reflects two physical parameters only — not atmosphere, water, or magnetic field.