Kepler-100 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-100 b is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-100, located approximately 993.6 light-years (304.65 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2014 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0066% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.34 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 4.01 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 9.19 g/cm³ (an iron-enriched, high-compression rocky core), a surface gravity of 2.23 g⊕ (21.87 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 19.4 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-100, Kepler-100 b completes one full revolution every 6.887 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.07309 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 115.5 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s). Its moderate orbital eccentricity of e = 0.13 carries the world between 0.0636 AU at periapsis and 0.0826 AU at apoapsis, driving measurable seasonal insolation cycles.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 1155 K (+882°C / +1620°F) and receiving 478.21 S⊕ (~650,849 W/m²), Kepler-100 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-100 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,837 K, a radius of 1.51 R☉, a mass of 1.13 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 2.375 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 6.92 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.1 dex (metal-rich relative to the Sun). From Earth, Kepler-100 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 11.055 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere. The Kepler-100 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 4 confirmed worlds, with Kepler-100 b sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside Kepler-100 c, Kepler-100 d, Kepler-100 e.
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: Kepler · Catalogue Source: NASA Exoplanet Archive (IPAC / Caltech).
☀️ Host Star Telemetry
| Host Star Name | Kepler-100 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,837 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.5100 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.1300 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 2.375 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.100 dex |
| Stellar Age | 6.920 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 11.055 · G: 11.129 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 4 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.073090 AU |
| Orbital Period | 6.887 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 115.5 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.13000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 85.3700° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 9.19 g/cm³ (19.4 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 478.2140 S⊕ (~650,849 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 993.600 LY (304.645 pc) |