Kepler-127: A Distant Star With Three Known Worlds

Kepler-127 is a star located 1150 light-years from Earth. It is 2.63 billion years old and has a mass of 1.25 solar masses, a radius of 1.37 solar radii, and a temperature of 6230 K. Its mass and radius are larger than the Sun's, and its temperature is hotter than the Sun's. Three planets have been found orbiting this star.

All three planets were discovered by the transit method in 2014. A transit occurs when a planet passes in front of its star from our viewpoint, causing a small dip in observed brightness; repeated dips help establish orbital periods. Kepler-127 b is classified as Earth-like. It completes an orbit in 14.4 days and has a radius of 1.4 Earth radii, larger than Earth's. Among the listed planets, it has the shortest year and the smallest radius.

Kepler-127 c and Kepler-127 d are both classified as Neptune-like. Kepler-127 c orbits in 29.4 days, has a radius of 2.66 Earth radii, and has the second-shortest year among the listed planets. Its radius is the largest of the three. Kepler-127 d orbits in 48.6 days and has a radius of 2.64 Earth radii, the second-smallest among the listed planets, with the longest year. Both planets are larger than Earth in radius.