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The planet orbits a (M-type) red dwarf star named K2-72, orbited Star K2-72
by a total of four planets, of which K2-72e has the longest orbital Physical characteristics
period. The star has a mass of 0.27 M☉ and a radius of 0.33 R☉ . It +0.14
Mean radius 1.29 −0.13[1] R🜨
has a temperature of 3360 K and its age is unknown. In
comparison, the Sun is 4.6 billion years old[3] and has a surface Mass ~2.21[2] MEarth
temperature of 5778 K.[4] Temperature 261.15 K
(−12.00 °C;
The star's apparent magnitude, or how bright it appears from
10.40 °F)[2]
Earth's perspective, is 15.309. Therefore, it is too dim to be seen
with the naked eye and can only be observed with a telescope.
Orbit
K2-72e orbits its host star with an orbital period of 24 days and an orbital radius of about 0.1 times that of
Earth's (compared to the distance of Mercury from the Sun, which is about 0.38 AU).
Habitability
The exoplanet, along with K2-72c, were announced to be orbiting in the habitable zone of its parent star,
the region where, with the correct conditions and atmospheric properties, liquid water may exist on the
surface of the planet. K2-72e has a radius of 1.29 R🜨, so it is likely rocky. Its host star is a red dwarf, with
about a fifth as much mass than the Sun does. As a result, stars like K2-72 have the ability to live up to 1–2
trillion years, hundreds of times longer than the Sun will live.[5]
The planet is very likely tidally locked, with one side of its hemisphere permanently facing towards the star,
while the opposite side shrouded in eternal darkness.
It receives 11% more insolation than Earth does, so any oceans present are potentially vulnerable to boiling
away, therefore possibly reducing the chance of habitability.
Discovery
The planet, along with the other three planets in the K2-72 system, were announced in mid-July 2016 as
part of the new results from the second mission of the Kepler spacecraft.
See also
List of potentially habitable exoplanets
References
1. "NASA Exoplanet Archive" (http://exoplanetarchive.ipac.caltech.edu/cgi-bin/DisplayOvervie
w/nph-DisplayOverview?objname=K2-72+e). NASA Exoplanet Science Institute. 14 October
2020. Retrieved 2020-10-14.
2. "PHL's Exoplanets Catalog" (https://web.archive.org/web/20190521010035/http://phl.upr.ed
u/projects/habitable-exoplanets-catalog/data/database). PHL's Exoplanets Catalog -
Planetary Habitability Laboratory @ UPR Arecibo (University of Puerto Rico at Arecibo).
Archived from the original (https://phl.upr.edu/projects/habitable-exoplanets-catalog/data/dat
abase) on 2019-05-21. Retrieved 2016-08-30. Orbit graphic with a table of simplified figures
(https://www.hpcf.upr.edu/~abel/phl/hec2/splots/plot_K2-72.png)
3. Fraser Cain (16 September 2008). "How Old is the Sun?" (http://www.universetoday.com/18
237/how-old-is-the-sun/). Universe Today. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
4. Fraser Cain (15 September 2008). "Temperature of the Sun" (http://www.universetoday.com/
18092/temperature-of-the-sun/). Universe Today. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
5. Adams, F. C.; P. Bodenheimer; G. Laughlin (2005). "M dwarfs: planet formation and long
term evolution" (https://doi.org/10.1002%2Fasna.200510440). Astronomische Nachrichten.
326 (10): 913–919. Bibcode:2005AN....326..913A (https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2005A
N....326..913A). doi:10.1002/asna.200510440 (https://doi.org/10.1002%2Fasna.200510440).