Astronomers identify star system LHS 2520 as possible home planet of Superman's Krypton
Shreeaa Rathi | Jul 04, 2025, 01:39 IST
( Image credit : TIL Creatives )
Highlight of the story: In a fascinating blend of pop culture and science, astronomers are delving into the cosmic origins of Superman's home planet, Krypton. By dissecting comic book lore alongside the principles of astrophysics, the quest has led to Neil DeGrasse Tyson pinpointing LHS 2520 as a potential host star, situated approximately 41.9 light-years away.
Astronomers have explored the potential location of Superman's home planet, Krypton, identifying a star system that could have hosted the alien world. This exploration, prompted by the upcoming film -Superman- (2025), considers the implications of Krypton's distance from Earth, suggesting that Superman's age may be more complex than it appears. The search for Krypton's star system involved analyzing decades of comic books and applying real-world astrophysics to the fictional world.
In 2012, astrophysicist Neil DeGrasse Tyson identified LHS 2520, also known as GJ 3707, as a plausible star that could have hosted Krypton. This red dwarf star is located approximately 41.9 light-years from Earth.
"This is a major milestone in the Superman mythos that gives our Super Hero a place in the universe," said Dan DiDio, then DC Entertainment co-publisher, in a 2012 statement.
DeGrasse Tyson's work led to an appearance in 2012's ACTION COMICS #14, where he helped Superman pinpoint Krypton's home star.
"Having Neil deGrasse Tyson in the book was one thing, but by applying real-world science to this story, he has forever changed Superman’s place in history," DiDio added. "Now fans will be able to look up at the night’s sky and say – ‘that’s where Superman was born’."
LHS 2520 is a red dwarf star, the most common type of star in the Milky Way. It is about 30% the width of our sun, approximately 3.3 times the size of Jupiter. The star's effective temperature ranges from 4,400 to 6,700 degrees Fahrenheit (2,400 to 3,700 degrees Celsius), making it cooler than the sun.
The distance of 41.9 light-years raises questions about the duration of Kal-El's journey to Earth. While faster-than-light travel exists in the DC Universe, early depictions of Kryptonians showed them as having limited space travel capabilities. Evidence suggests Kal-El's ship did not travel faster than light.
Kryptonite, fragments of the exploded planet Krypton, arrived on Earth around the same time as Kal-El in many Superman adaptations.
The speed at which ejecta from celestial explosions travel can vary, with supernovas producing the fastest ejecta, reaching up to 10% of the speed of light. If Krypton exploded with supernova-like intensity, its ejecta would reach Earth in approximately 420 years.
If Kal-El traveled ahead of this debris, he would be about 421 years old upon arriving on Earth.
Superman is often portrayed as being in his early to mid-thirties in DC Comics. If he took 420 years to reach Earth and has been here for at least 33 years, he could be around 453 years old.
Kryptonians may have possessed time-distorting technology and suspended animation capabilities, such as the Phantom Zone. This could mean Superman is chronologically 453 years old but biologically in his 30s.
Currently, the Orion spacecraft, designed to carry astronauts to the moon, travels at approximately 25,000 miles per hour. This is about 0.0037% the speed of light. At this speed, it would take about 1.14 million years to reach Krypton.
In 2012, astrophysicist Neil DeGrasse Tyson identified LHS 2520, also known as GJ 3707, as a plausible star that could have hosted Krypton. This red dwarf star is located approximately 41.9 light-years from Earth.
"This is a major milestone in the Superman mythos that gives our Super Hero a place in the universe," said Dan DiDio, then DC Entertainment co-publisher, in a 2012 statement.
DeGrasse Tyson's work led to an appearance in 2012's ACTION COMICS #14, where he helped Superman pinpoint Krypton's home star.
"Having Neil deGrasse Tyson in the book was one thing, but by applying real-world science to this story, he has forever changed Superman’s place in history," DiDio added. "Now fans will be able to look up at the night’s sky and say – ‘that’s where Superman was born’."
LHS 2520 is a red dwarf star, the most common type of star in the Milky Way. It is about 30% the width of our sun, approximately 3.3 times the size of Jupiter. The star's effective temperature ranges from 4,400 to 6,700 degrees Fahrenheit (2,400 to 3,700 degrees Celsius), making it cooler than the sun.
The distance of 41.9 light-years raises questions about the duration of Kal-El's journey to Earth. While faster-than-light travel exists in the DC Universe, early depictions of Kryptonians showed them as having limited space travel capabilities. Evidence suggests Kal-El's ship did not travel faster than light.
Kryptonite, fragments of the exploded planet Krypton, arrived on Earth around the same time as Kal-El in many Superman adaptations.
The speed at which ejecta from celestial explosions travel can vary, with supernovas producing the fastest ejecta, reaching up to 10% of the speed of light. If Krypton exploded with supernova-like intensity, its ejecta would reach Earth in approximately 420 years.
If Kal-El traveled ahead of this debris, he would be about 421 years old upon arriving on Earth.
Superman is often portrayed as being in his early to mid-thirties in DC Comics. If he took 420 years to reach Earth and has been here for at least 33 years, he could be around 453 years old.
Kryptonians may have possessed time-distorting technology and suspended animation capabilities, such as the Phantom Zone. This could mean Superman is chronologically 453 years old but biologically in his 30s.
Currently, the Orion spacecraft, designed to carry astronauts to the moon, travels at approximately 25,000 miles per hour. This is about 0.0037% the speed of light. At this speed, it would take about 1.14 million years to reach Krypton.