Kepler-1520b
Kepler-1520b (initially published as KIC 12557548 b), is a confirmed exoplanet orbiting the K-type main sequence star Kepler-1520. It is located about 2,020 light-years (620 parsecs) away from Earth in the constellation of Cygnus. The exoplanet was found by using the transit method, in which the dimming effect that a planet causes as it crosses in front of its star is measured. The planet was previously proposed in 2012 when reports of its host star recorded drops in its luminosity varying from 0.2% to 1.3%, which indicated a possible planetary companion rapidly disintegrating. In 2015, the planetary nature of the cause of the dips was finally verified. It is expected to disintegrate in about 40–400 million years.
Artist's concept of Kepler-1520b orbiting its host star. The planet is rapidly losing mass through the sublimation of its planetary surface and has a tail of dust. | |
| Discovery | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | Kepler spacecraft |
| Discovery date | 2012 (proposed) May 12, 2016 (confirmed) |
| Transit | |
| Orbital characteristics | |
| 0.013 AU (1,900,000 km) | |
| 0.6535538±0.0000001 d | |
| Inclination | ~90 |
| Star | Kepler-1520 |
| Physical characteristics | |
Mean radius | <1 (for albedo of 0.5) R🜨 |
| Mass | <0.02 ME |
| Temperature | 2,255 K (1,982 °C; 3,599 °F) |
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