Kepler-1003 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-1003 b is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-1003, located approximately 3072.1 light-years (941.9 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2016 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0195% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.78 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 3.82 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 3.73 g/cm³ (an intermediate density indicative of a deep water-ice mantle or dense volatile envelope), a surface gravity of 1.21 g⊕ (11.87 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 16.4 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-1003, Kepler-1003 b completes one full revolution every 3.555 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.04333 AU (an ultra-close orbit less than one-seventh of Mercury's 0.387 AU distance from the Sun, where strong stellar tidal forces typically induce synchronous rotation). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 132.6 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s). The orbit is modeled as circular (e = 0.00), maintaining a constant stellar distance throughout its year.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 1157 K (+884°C / +1623°F) and receiving 814.93 S⊕ (~1,109,113 W/m²), Kepler-1003 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-1003 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 6,109 K, a radius of 1.17 R☉, a mass of 1.11 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 1.711 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 3.16 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.01 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, Kepler-1003 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 14.132 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere.
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-1003 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 6,109 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.1700 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.1100 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 1.711 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.010 dex |
| Stellar Age | 3.160 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 14.132 · G: 14.023 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.043330 AU |
| Orbital Period | 3.555 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 132.6 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 88.4700° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 3.73 g/cm³ (16.4 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 814.9250 S⊕ (~1,109,113 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 3072.100 LY (941.902 pc) |