Kepler-1518 and Its Two Neptune-Like Planets

Kepler-1518 is a star located 2950 light-years away, and two planets are known to orbit it. The star is 1.48 billion years old, with a mass of 1.54 solar masses, a radius of 1.88 solar radii, and a temperature of 6850 K. Its mass, radius, and temperature are all larger or hotter than the Sun's.

Both planets were found by the transit method, in which a planet passes in front of its star from our viewpoint and causes a small dip in observed brightness; repeated dips help establish orbital periods. Kepler-1518 b was discovered in 2016 and Kepler-1518 c in 2023.

Kepler-1518 b is Neptune-like, with a radius of 3.05 Earth radii and an orbital period of 5.11 days. Among the listed planets, it has the shortest year and the largest radius. Kepler-1518 c is also Neptune-like, with a radius of 2.9 Earth radii and an orbital period of 9.63 days. Among the listed planets, it has the longest year and the smallest radius. Both planets are larger than Earth.