Kepler-1006 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-1006 b is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-1006, located approximately 3528.2 light-years (1081.74 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2016 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0364% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.54 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 2.99 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 4.51 g/cm³ (a terrestrial silicate-iron composition comparable to Earth (5.51 g/cm³)), a surface gravity of 1.26 g⊕ (12.36 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 15.6 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-1006, Kepler-1006 b completes one full revolution every 19.762 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.1464 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 80.6 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 791 K (+518°C / +964°F) and receiving 153.49 S⊕ (~208,904 W/m²), Kepler-1006 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-1006 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,328 K, a radius of 0.74 R☉, a mass of 0.78 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.396 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 4.27 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.4 dex (metal-poor relative to the Sun). From Earth, Kepler-1006 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 14.467 (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-1006 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,328 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.7400 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.7800 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.396 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.400 dex |
| Stellar Age | 4.270 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 14.467 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.146400 AU |
| Orbital Period | 19.762 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 80.6 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 86.8600° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 4.51 g/cm³ (15.6 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 153.4930 S⊕ (~208,904 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 3528.200 LY (1081.738 pc) |