Kepler-79: A Distant Star With Four Transiting Planets

Kepler-79 is a star located 3330 light-years away. It has an age of 3.44 billion years, a mass of 1.17 solar masses, a radius of 1.3 solar radii, and a temperature of 6170 K. Its reported mass estimate is larger than the Sun's, its reported radius estimate is larger than the Sun's, and its reported temperature is hotter than the Sun's. Four planets orbit this host: Kepler-79 b, Kepler-79 c, Kepler-79 d, and Kepler-79 e.

All four planets were discovered 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; repeated dips help establish orbital periods. Kepler-79 b was discovered in 2012, along with Kepler-79 c. Kepler-79 d and Kepler-79 e were both discovered in 2014. All four planets have reported radius estimates larger than Earth's and reported mass estimates larger than Earth's.

Kepler-79 b is Neptune-like, with a mass of 7.6 Earth masses, an orbital period of 13.5 days, and a radius of 3.51 Earth radii. Its mean density is 0.968 g/cm³, 0.176 times Earth's. Among the listed planets, Kepler-79 b has the shortest year by reported estimates, at 13.5 days, and the largest reported mass, at 7.6 Earth masses.

Kepler-79 c is Neptune-like, with a mass of 4.6 Earth masses, an orbital period of 27.4 days, and a radius of 3.76 Earth radii. Its mean density is 0.477 g/cm³, 0.0865 times Earth's. Among the listed planets, Kepler-79 c has the second-shortest year by reported estimates, at 27.4 days, the second-largest radius by reported estimates, at 3.76 Earth radii, and the second-smallest reported mass, at 4.6 Earth masses.

Kepler-79 d is Jupiter-like, with a mass of 5.3 Earth masses, an orbital period of 52.1 days, and a radius of 7.15 Earth radii. Its mean density is 0.0799 g/cm³, 0.0145 times Earth's. Among the listed planets, Kepler-79 d has the second-longest year by reported estimates, at 52.1 days, the largest radius by reported estimates, at 7.15 Earth radii, and the second-largest reported mass, at 5.3 Earth masses.

Kepler-79 e is Neptune-like, with a mass of 3.8 Earth masses, an orbital period of 81.1 days, and a radius of 3.53 Earth radii. Its mean density is 0.476 g/cm³, 0.0864 times Earth's. Among the listed planets, Kepler-79 e has the longest year by reported estimates, at 81.1 days, the second-smallest radius by reported estimates, at 3.53 Earth radii, and the smallest reported mass, at 3.8 Earth masses.