Kepler-101 c
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-101 c is a confirmed terrestrial exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-101, located approximately 3026.7 light-years (927.98 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2014 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0054% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.25 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 3.78 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 10.67 g/cm³ (an iron-enriched, high-compression rocky core), a surface gravity of 2.42 g⊕ (23.73 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 19.5 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-101, Kepler-101 c completes one full revolution every 6.03 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.0684 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 123.4 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 1413 K (+1140°C / +2084°F) and receiving 596.07 S⊕ (~811,250 W/m²), Kepler-101 c orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-101 is classified as a solar-type yellow star of spectral type G3 IV with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,667 K, a radius of 1.56 R☉, a mass of 1.17 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 2.252 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 5.9 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.33 dex (metal-rich relative to the Sun). From Earth, Kepler-101 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 13.7 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere. The Kepler-101 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 2 confirmed worlds, with Kepler-101 c sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside Kepler-101 b.
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-101 |
| Spectral Type | G3 IV |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,667 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.5600 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.1700 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 2.252 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.330 dex |
| Stellar Age | 5.900 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 13.700 · G: 13.567 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 2 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.068400 AU |
| Orbital Period | 6.03 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 123.4 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 84.6000° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 10.67 g/cm³ (19.5 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 596.0690 S⊕ (~811,250 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 3026.700 LY (927.981 pc) |