Complete world information

Kepler-22 b

Kepler-22 b is historically important and may be water-rich, but its size allows substantial atmosphere and its surface conditions remain unknown.

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Scientific status

No exoplanet is confirmed habitable or inhabited. Habitable-zone position only means that liquid surface water could be possible under the right atmospheric conditions. Rate the Earth percentages are editorial comparison scores, not scientific probabilities.

Rate the Earth habitability percentages are editorial comparison scores, not scientific proof of habitability or life.
NASA/Ames/JPL-Caltech-inspired artist conceptPossible ocean world concept
Rate the Earth habitability comparison45%
Optimistic candidate — probably not Earth-like in bulk
Probability of other life30%
Candidate for simple life
Distance modelApprox. 635 light-years

The listed value is the approximate present distance from Earth. Interstellar destinations move, but the difference is negligible compared with the enormous journey time at current spacecraft speeds.

One-way light time635 years

Minimum delay for information travelling at light speed.

Round-trip communication1,270 years

Approximate send-and-reply delay before processing time.

Real mission comparisonBeyond current mission capability

No spacecraft has travelled to this system

Host systemKepler-22Open the complete star-system information page →

Life potential

Could other life exist on Kepler-22 b?

Kepler-22 b is treated as a potentially habitable candidate, so this site assigns it a moderate editorial probability for simple non-human life.

Editorial probability of other life30%
Candidate for simple life

Why this score?

  • Rate the Earth habitability comparison score: 45%.
  • Atmosphere clue: Unknown; potentially substantial.
  • Host-star context: G-type star.
  • The catalog flags this world as a potentially habitable candidate.

This probability is an editorial astrobiology estimate based on public characteristics, not a formal scientific measurement.

Complete data sheet

Everything listed for Kepler-22 b

Measured values, estimates, discovery information and the main uncertainties are shown together below.

WorldKepler-22 b
ClassificationPossible ocean-world super-Earth
Host systemKepler-22
Host starG-type star
Distance from EarthApprox. 635 light-years
Radius2.1 × Earth
MassAbout 9.1 × Earth (estimate)
GravityUnknown
AtmosphereUnknown; potentially substantial
TemperatureModel-dependent
Orbital period289.9 days
Discovery year2011
Discovery methodTransit
Habitability statusOptimistic candidate — probably not Earth-like in bulk
Candidate classificationPotentially habitable candidate — not confirmed habitable
Image statusNo resolved surface image; displayed visual is a labelled artist concept
DistanceAbout 635 light-years
RadiusAbout 2.1 × Earth
MassAbout 9.1 × Earth (estimate)
Orbital periodAbout 289.9 days

Travel calculation

How long would the journey take?

Straight-line arithmetic is compared with real mission history. Actual trajectories depend on orbital mechanics, acceleration, braking, launch windows and gravity assists.

At light speed635 years299,792 km/s

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

At 10% of light speed6,350 years29,979 km/s — hypothetical

No operational spacecraft can sustain this interstellar cruise speed.

At 1% of light speed63,500 years2,998 km/s — hypothetical

Still far beyond current spacecraft propulsion.

At Parker Solar Probe peak990,355 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 speed11.71 million yearsAbout 58,536 km/h

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

At Voyager 1 speed11.2 million yearsAbout 61,200 km/h

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

Research guide

What we know, and what we do not know

What is directly known

The planet itself is not resolved as a detailed globe. Its existence and properties are inferred mainly through transit, together with measurements of the host star.

What remains unknown

Surface geography, oceans, continents, clouds and living organisms have not been directly observed. Atmosphere and composition may also remain uncertain.

What is known

Kepler-22 b transits a G-type star every 289.9 days and has a measured radius about 2.1 times Earth's.

Habitability limits

Its mass and composition are poorly constrained, and it could have a deep volatile envelope rather than an Earth-like surface.

Why it stands out

It was one of the first famous planets found comfortably orbiting in a Sun-like star's habitable zone.

Primary catalog source: NASA Science