Kepler-60: A Distant Star With Three Super-Earths

Kepler-60 is a star located 3340 light-years away with three planets orbiting it. The star is 5.13 billion years old and has a mass of 1.09 solar masses and a radius of 1.28 solar radii. Its temperature is 5960 K. The star's reported mass estimate is larger than the Sun's, and its reported radius estimate is also larger than the Sun's. Its reported temperature is hotter than the Sun's.

Three planets have been identified around Kepler-60: Kepler-60 b, Kepler-60 c, and Kepler-60 d. All three were discovered by transit in 2012, meaning each was detected as it passed in front of the star from our viewpoint, causing a small dip in observed brightness. All three are classified as Super-Earths, a size class that reaches up to 2.5 times Earth's radius.

Kepler-60 b has a mass of 4.19 Earth masses, a radius of 1.71 Earth radii, and an orbital period of 7.13 days. Among the listed planets, Kepler-60 b has the shortest year by reported estimates, the smallest radius by reported estimates, and the largest reported mass. Its mean density is 4.62 g/cm³, 0.838 times Earth's.

Kepler-60 c has a mass of 3.85 Earth masses, a radius of 1.9 Earth radii, and an orbital period of 8.92 days. Among the listed planets, Kepler-60 c has the second-shortest year by reported estimates, the second-smallest radius by reported estimates, and the smallest reported mass. Its mean density is 3.09 g/cm³, 0.561 times Earth's.

Kepler-60 d has a mass of 4.16 Earth masses, a radius of 1.99 Earth radii, and an orbital period of 11.9 days. Among the listed planets, Kepler-60 d has the longest year by reported estimates, the largest radius by reported estimates, and the second-smallest reported mass. Its mean density is 2.91 g/cm³, 0.528 times Earth's.

For each of the three planets, the reported mass estimate is larger than Earth's, and the reported radius estimate is larger than Earth's.