Kepler-325: A Distant Star With Three Neptune-Like Worlds

Kepler-325 is a star located 2690 light-years away. It has 0.91 solar masses, a radius of 0.88 solar radii, a temperature of 5540 K, and an age of 4.17 billion years. Its reported mass and radius estimates are smaller than the Sun's, and its reported temperature is cooler than the Sun's. Three planets are known to orbit this host.

All three planets are Neptune-like in size classification, meaning their radii reach up to four times Earth's radius. Kepler-325 b, Kepler-325 c, and Kepler-325 d were each discovered by the transit method and announced 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-325 b has an orbital period of 4.54 days and a radius of 2.91 Earth radii. Among the listed planets, it has both the shortest year by reported estimates and the largest radius by reported estimates.

Kepler-325 c orbits every 12.8 days and has a radius of 2.54 Earth radii. Among the listed planets, it has the second-shortest year by reported estimates and the smallest radius by reported estimates.

Kepler-325 d has the longest orbital period of the three, at 38.7 days, and a radius of 2.79 Earth radii. Among the listed planets, it has the second-smallest radius by reported estimates.

Each planet's reported radius estimate is larger than Earth's. The star's age is 4.17 billion years.