Kepler-169 and Its Five Planets

Kepler-169 is a star located 1330 light-years away, and five planets have been reported orbiting it. The star is 3.72 billion years old, has a mass of 0.84 solar masses, a radius of 0.78 solar radii, and a temperature of 5070 K.

All five planets were discovered by the transit method in 2014. During a transit, 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-169 b, c, and d are Earth-like in size class. Kepler-169 b has an orbital period of 3.25 days and a radius of 1.13 Earth radii, the smallest radius among the listed planets and the shortest year among them. Kepler-169 c has an orbital period of 6.2 days and a radius of 1.21 Earth radii, the second-shortest year and second-smallest radius among the listed planets. Kepler-169 d has an orbital period of 8.35 days and a radius of 1.25 Earth radii.

Kepler-169 e is Super-Earth-like, with an orbital period of 13.8 days and a radius of 2.2 Earth radii, the second-longest year and second-largest radius among the listed planets. Kepler-169 f is Neptune-like, with an orbital period of 87.1 days and a radius of 2.58 Earth radii, the largest radius and longest year among the listed planets. Every listed planet's reported radius estimate is larger than Earth's, and the star's reported mass, radius, and temperature estimates are each smaller or cooler than the Sun's.