Kepler-279: A Distant Star With Four Planets

Kepler-279 is a star located 3380 light-years away, and it hosts four planets. The star is estimated to be 2.57 billion years old, with a reported mass estimate of 1.32 solar masses - larger than the Sun's - and a reported radius estimate of 1.66 solar radii, also larger than the Sun's. Its reported temperature of 6490 K is hotter than the Sun's.

All four 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. Kepler-279 b, discovered in 2014, is Neptune-like, with a reported radius estimate of 3.62 Earth radii - larger than Earth's - and an orbital period of 12.3 days, the shortest among the listed planets. Kepler-279 c, discovered in 2013, is Jupiter-like, with a reported radius estimate of 4.3 Earth radii and a reported mass estimate of 49.4 Earth masses, both larger than Earth's. Its mean density is 3.42 g/cm³, 0.621 times Earth's, and its orbital period is 35.7 days, the second-shortest among the listed planets.

Kepler-279 d, also discovered in 2013, is Neptune-like, with a reported radius estimate of 3.1 Earth radii and a reported mass estimate of 37.5 Earth masses, both larger than Earth's. Its mean density is 6.94 g/cm³, 1.26 times Earth's, and its orbital period is 54.4 days, the second-longest among the listed planets. Kepler-279 e, discovered in 2025, has a reported mass estimate of 56 Earth masses, larger than Earth's, and an orbital period of 98.4 days, the longest among the listed planets.