Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 9, 2026

Kepler-56c

Kepler-56c is a hot Jupiter orbiting the star Kepler-56, located in the constellation Cygnus. It was discovered by the Kepler telescope in October 2013. It orbits its parent star only 0.17 AU away; at its distance, it completes an orbit once every 21.4 days. Its orbit is significantly misaligned with its parent star's equator. Further studies have revealed that a third planet, 56d, is responsible for misaligning the orbits of both planets.

Last revised
Jul 9, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
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Citations
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Source
Kepler-56c
A diagram of the planetary system of Kepler-56
Discovery
Discovered byDaniel Huber et al.1
Discovery date16 October 2013
Transit method
Orbital characteristics
0.1652 ± 0.0059 AU (24,710,000 ± 880,000 km)1
21.40239+0.00059
−0.00062
1 d
StarKepler-56
Physical characteristics
9.80 ± 0.461 R🜨
Mass181+21
−19
1 M🜨
Mean density
1.06+0.14
−0.13
g cm−3

Kepler-56c is a hot Jupiter2 (a class of exoplanets) orbiting the star Kepler-56, located in the constellation Cygnus. It was discovered by the Kepler telescope in October 2013. It orbits its parent star only 0.17 AU (16 million mi; 25 million km) away; at its distance, it completes an orbit once every 21.4 days.1 Its orbit is significantly misaligned with its parent star's equator.1 Further studies have revealed that a third planet, 56d, is responsible for misaligning the orbits of both planets.

Both Kepler-56b and Kepler-56c will be devoured by their parent star in about 130 and 155 million years, respectively.3 Further research shows that it will have its atmosphere boiled away by intense heat from the star, and it will be stretched by the strengthening stellar tides.3

References

References

  1. Huber, D.; et al. (2013). "Stellar Spin-Orbit Misalignment in a Multiplanet System". Science. 342 (6156): 331–4. arXiv:1310.4503. Bibcode:2013Sci...342..331H. doi:10.1126/science.1242066. PMID 24136961. S2CID 1056370.
  2. Huber, Daniel; Carter, Joshua A.; et al. (2013-10-18). "Stellar Spin-Orbit Misalignment in a Multiplanet System". Science. 342 (6156): 331–334. arXiv:1310.4503. Bibcode:2013Sci...342..331H. doi:10.1126/science.1242066. PMID 24136961. S2CID 1056370.
  3. Charles Poladian (2014-06-03). "Cosmic Snack: Planets Kepler-56b And Kepler-56c Will Be Swallowed Whole By Host Star". International Business Times. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
External links