KELT-6 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
KELT-6 b is a confirmed gas giant exoplanet orbiting the star KELT-6, located approximately 785.1 light-years (240.73 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2014 by KELT using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.5963% across the stellar disk), this world measures 14.572 Earth radii (1.3 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 165.272 Earth masses (0.52 Jupiter masses). Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 0.29 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 0.78 g⊕ (7.65 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 37.7 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around KELT-6, KELT-6 b completes one full revolution every 7.846 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.07939 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 110.1 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s). Its moderate orbital eccentricity of e = 0.22 carries the world between 0.0619 AU at periapsis and 0.0969 AU at apoapsis, driving measurable seasonal insolation cycles.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 1313 K (+1040°C / +1904°F) and receiving 718.19 S⊕ (~977,454 W/m²), KELT-6 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star KELT-6 is classified as a warm F-type star of spectral type F8 with an effective photospheric temperature of 6,102 K, a radius of 1.73 R☉, a mass of 1.42 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 3.723 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 6.1 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.28 dex (metal-poor relative to the Sun). From Earth, KELT-6 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 10.371 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere. The KELT-6 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 2 confirmed worlds, with KELT-6 b sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside KELT-6 c.
Methodology: Computed using the Schulze-Makuch et al. (2011) weighted metric comparing physical interior (radius, estimated density) and surface thermal regime (escape velocity, equilibrium temperature).
Discovery Facility: KELT · Catalogue Source: NASA Exoplanet Archive (IPAC / Caltech).
☀️ Host Star Telemetry
| Host Star Name | KELT-6 |
| Spectral Type | F8 |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 6,102 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.7300 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.4200 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 3.723 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.280 dex |
| Stellar Age | 6.100 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 10.371 · G: 10.193 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 2 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.079390 AU |
| Orbital Period | 7.846 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 110.1 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.22000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 88.8100° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 0.29 g/cm³ (37.7 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 718.1880 S⊕ (~977,454 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 785.100 LY (240.726 pc) |