Kepler-100 d
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-100 d 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 0.0098% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.61 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 3 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 3.96 g/cm³ (an intermediate density indicative of a deep water-ice mantle or dense volatile envelope), a surface gravity of 1.16 g⊕ (11.38 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 15.3 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-100, Kepler-100 d completes one full revolution every 35.333 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.21747 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 67 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s). The planet follows a highly eccentric trajectory (e = 0.38, swinging from 0.1348 AU at periapsis out to 0.3001 AU at apoapsis), pointing to past dynamical scattering or secular gravitational perturbations.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 670 K (+397°C / +747°F) and receiving 53.98 S⊕ (~73,468 W/m²), Kepler-100 d 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 5,825 K, a radius of 1.49 R☉, a mass of 1.08 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 2.293 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 6.46 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.02 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). 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 d sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside Kepler-100 b, Kepler-100 c, 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) | 5,825 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.4900 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.0800 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 2.293 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.020 dex |
| Stellar Age | 6.460 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 11.055 · G: 11.129 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 4 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.217470 AU |
| Orbital Period | 35.333 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 67 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.38000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 88.9200° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 3.96 g/cm³ (15.3 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 53.9810 S⊕ (~73,468 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 993.600 LY (304.645 pc) |