Kepler-227: A Distant Star With Two Neptune-Like Worlds

Kepler-227 is a star located 3530 light-years away. It is 4.57 billion years old, has a mass of 0.96 solar masses, a radius of 0.94 solar radii, and a temperature of 5620 K. Its reported temperature is cooler than the Sun's. Two planets are known to orbit this host.

Both planets were discovered by transit in 2014, the method in which a planet passes in front of its star from our viewpoint and causes a small dip in observed brightness. Kepler-227 b and Kepler-227 c are both Neptune-like, a size class that reaches 4 times Earth's radius. Kepler-227 b has an orbital period of 9.49 days and a radius of 3.11 Earth radii, larger than Earth's. Kepler-227 c has an orbital period of 54.4 days and a radius of 3.04 Earth radii, also larger than Earth's.

Among the listed planets, Kepler-227 b has the shortest year by reported estimates, at 9.49 days, and the largest radius, at 3.11 Earth radii. Kepler-227 c has the longest year by reported estimates, at 54.4 days, and the smallest radius, at 3.04 Earth radii.