Astronomy:Kepler-296d

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Kepler-296d
Discovery
Discovered byKepler spacecraft
Discovery date2014
Transit
Orbital characteristics
0.118 AU
Eccentricity<0.33
Orbital period19.9 d
StarKepler-296
Physical characteristics
Mean radius2.09 Earth radii
Mass5.02 Earth masses


Kepler-296d is an exoplanet orbiting the M-dwarf star Kepler-296,[1][2][3] located in the constellation Draco.[4] It was discovered in 2014 by the Kepler space telescope using the transit method.[1][5]

Characteristics

Kepler-296d has a radius approximately 2.09 times[1] that of Earth and a mass estimated at 5.02[1][4] Earth masses, placing it in the category of Neptune-like exoplanets. The planet orbits its host star every 19.9 days at a distance of approximately 0.118 AU.[1][5] Its orbit has an eccentricity of less than 0.33.[5]

Host Star

The host star, Kepler-296, is an M-type dwarf.[2] These stars are cooler and smaller than the Sun, and often host multiple exoplanets. Kepler-296 is known to host at least five planets.[1][3]

Discovery

Kepler-296d was identified in 2014[1] as part of the data collected by NASA's Kepler space telescope, which monitored the brightness of over 150,000 stars[6] to detect periodic dips in light indicative of planetary transits. The detection of Kepler-296d was achieved through the transit method,[1][5] wherein a planet passes between its host star and the observer, causing a measurable decrease in the star’s apparent brightness.

See also

References