Kepler-244: A Distant Star With Three Known Planets

Kepler-244 is a star located 3380 light-years away. It hosts three planets, all discovered by transit in 2014. The host star is 4.79 billion years old, with a mass of 0.82 solar masses, a radius of 0.79 solar radii, and a temperature of 5270 K. Its reported mass and radius estimates are smaller than the Sun’s, and its reported temperature is cooler than the Sun’s.

Kepler-244 b is a Neptune-like planet with an orbital period of 4.31 days and a radius of 2.76 Earth radii. Kepler-244 c is a Super-Earth with an orbital period of 9.77 days and a radius of 2.05 Earth radii. Kepler-244 d is also a Super-Earth, with an orbital period of 20.1 days and a radius of 2.31 Earth radii. A Super-Earth reaches 2.5 times Earth's radius, while a Neptune-like planet reaches 4 times Earth's radius. Each of the three planets has a reported radius estimate larger than Earth’s.

Among the listed planets, Kepler-244 b has the shortest year by reported estimates, at 4.31 days, and the largest radius, at 2.76 Earth radii. Kepler-244 d has the longest year, at 20.1 days, and the second-smallest radius, at 2.31 Earth radii. Kepler-244 c has the second-shortest year, at 9.77 days, and the smallest radius, at 2.05 Earth radii.