Kepler-46
Artist's conception of the Kepler-46 system showing the two planets. Planet b transits its star, the same method by which it was detected. | |
| Observation data Epoch J2000 Equinox J2000 | |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Lyra |
| Right ascension | 19h 17m 04.4930s |
| Declination | 42° 36′ 15.041″ |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 15.7 |
| Characteristics | |
| Evolutionary stage | main sequence |
| Spectral type | G |
| Apparent magnitude (J) | 13.814 |
| Apparent magnitude (H) | 13.436 |
| Apparent magnitude (K) | 13.347 |
| Astrometry | |
| Proper motion (μ) | RA: 3.101(24) mas/yr Dec.: 0.864(27) mas/yr |
| Parallax (π) | 1.2963±0.0225 mas |
| Distance | 2,520 ± 40 ly (770 ± 10 pc) |
| Details | |
| Mass | 0.902+0.040 −0.038 M☉ |
| Radius | 0.938+0.038 −0.039 R☉ |
| Luminosity | 0.43 L☉ |
| Surface gravity (log g) | 4.55 cgs |
| Temperature | 5155±150 K |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.41±0.10 dex |
| Rotation | 27.859±0.075 days |
| Age | 9.7+3.7 −3.5 Gyr |
| Other designations | |
| KOI-872, KIC 7109675, 2MASS J19170449+4236150, Gaia DR2 2102700131386216576 | |
| Database references | |
| SIMBAD | data |
| Exoplanet Archive | data |
| KIC | data |
Kepler-46, previously designated KOI-872, is a star located in the constellation Lyra. Observed since 2009 by the Kepler space observatory, it has since been found to possess a planetary system consisting of at least three planets and while it has a similar mass to the Sun (90%) it is significantly older at ten billion years.
Kepler-46 b (previously KOI-872.01), was the first planet discovered in the system. It was found through detailed analysis of Kepler space observatory data. An additional planet, Kepler-46 c, was discovered by an outside group using Kepler public data through analysis of transit timing variations. While only one additional planet was confirmed by the analysis, the study revealed the potential existence of an unconfirmed planet KOI-872.03 (KOI-872 d). Validation by the multiplicity method confirmed the existence of this planet which was then renamed Kepler-46d.