Kepler-286: A Distant Star With Four Small Worlds

Kepler-286 is a star located roughly 4000 light-years away, and it hosts four known planets. The star is estimated to be 2.75 billion years old and has a reported mass of 0.96 solar masses, a reported radius of 0.91 solar radii, and a temperature of 5740 K. Its reported radius estimate is smaller than the Sun's.

All four planets were discovered by transit 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, which are the times the planets take to complete one orbit.

Kepler-286 b is an Earth-like planet with a reported orbital period of 1.8 days and a reported radius of 1.24 Earth radii. Among the listed planets, it has the shortest year and the smallest radius by reported estimates. Kepler-286 c is also Earth-like, with a reported orbital period of 3.47 days and a reported radius of 1.37 Earth radii. Among the listed planets, it has the second-shortest year and the second-largest radius by reported estimates; its reported radius estimate is larger than Earth's. Kepler-286 d is Earth-like as well, with a reported orbital period of 5.91 days and a reported radius of 1.33 Earth radii. Among the listed planets, it has the second-longest year and the second-smallest radius by reported estimates, and its reported radius estimate is larger than Earth's.

Kepler-286 e is a Super-Earth with a reported orbital period of 29.2 days and a reported radius of 1.77 Earth radii. Among the listed planets, it has the longest year and the largest radius by reported estimates, and its reported radius estimate is larger than Earth's.