Kepler-130: A Distant Star With Three Known Worlds

Kepler-130 is a star located 1030 light-years away, and three planets have been found orbiting it. The host star is 5.89 billion years old and has a mass of 1.02 solar masses, a radius of 1.18 solar radii, and a temperature of 6010 K. Its radius is larger than the Sun's, and its temperature is hotter than the Sun's. All three planets were discovered by transit, the 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-130 b is classified as Earth-like. It has an orbital period of 8.46 days and a radius of 1.02 Earth radii, making it the smallest of the listed planets. Kepler-130 c is Neptune-like, with an orbital period of 27.5 days and a radius of 2.9 Earth radii; it is the largest of the listed planets. Kepler-130 d is a Super-Earth with an orbital period of 87.5 days and a radius of 1.64 Earth radii. Among the listed planets, Kepler-130 b has the shortest year, Kepler-130 c has the second-shortest year, and Kepler-130 d has the longest year.