Kepler-56


Kepler-56 is a red giant roughly 3,060 light years away with slightly more mass than the Sun. It has two confirmed planets, one slightly smaller than Neptune, and another slightly smaller than Saturn. Both planets were discovered in 2012.

Planetary system

In 2012, a planetary system was discovered around Kepler-56 via transit method. Planets were subsequently confirmed through transit timing variation method.
Asteroseismological studies revealed that the orbits of Kepler-56b and Kepler-56c are about 45° misaligned to the host star's equator. Follow-up radial velocity measurements revealed the evidence of a gravitational perturbator but currently it is not clear if it is a nearby star or a third planet.
Both Kepler-56b and Kepler-56c will be devoured by their parent star in 130 and 155 million years, respectively.