Original project · 2026

Complete star-system information

Kepler-186

Home to Kepler-186f, the first validated Earth-size planet in a distant star's habitable zone.

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Host starKepler-186

M-type red dwarf

Distance from EarthApprox. 582 light-years

One-way light time: 582 years

Worlds listed here1

1 catalog candidates flagged for habitability discussion.

Communication round trip1,164 years

Before any scientific processing or response delay.

System architecture

Kepler-186

Star typeM-type red dwarf
ArchitectureFive confirmed transiting planets are known in the system.
How it is observedPlanet sizes and periods come from repeated Kepler transits.
Research importanceKepler-186f was the first validated Earth-size planet in another star's habitable-zone region.
Main uncertaintyIts mass and atmosphere have not been directly measured.
Known planets5
Catalog worldKepler-186f
DetectionTransit
Direct imageNo

System travel calculation

How long to reach Kepler-186?

This is the approximate distance from Earth to the host star system. Every listed planet in the system is effectively at the same interstellar distance for travel estimates.

At light speed582 years299,792 km/s

A physical reference only. A spacecraft with mass cannot reach light speed.

At 10% of light speed5,820 years29,979 km/s — hypothetical

No operational spacecraft can sustain this interstellar cruise speed.

At 1% of light speed58,200 years2,998 km/s — hypothetical

Still far beyond current spacecraft propulsion.

At Parker Solar Probe peak907,695 yearsAbout 692,000 km/h

Parker reaches this speed only very close to the Sun; it is not an interstellar cruise speed.

At New Horizons launch speed10.73 million yearsAbout 58,536 km/h

A comparison using a real high-energy launch from Earth.

At Voyager 1 speed10.26 million yearsAbout 61,200 km/h

A practical comparison with a spacecraft already moving into interstellar space.

Catalog worlds in this system

1 listed worlds

Primary catalog source: NASA Science ↗