Kepler-1022 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-1022 b is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-1022, located approximately 1370 light-years (420.04 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2016 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.1012% across the stellar disk), this world measures 2.36 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 6.17 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 2.59 g/cm³ (an intermediate density indicative of a deep water-ice mantle or dense volatile envelope), a surface gravity of 1.11 g⊕ (10.89 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 18.1 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-1022, Kepler-1022 b completes one full revolution every 10.995 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.0805 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 79.7 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 512 K (+239°C / +462°F) and receiving 19.26 S⊕ (~26,210 W/m²), Kepler-1022 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-1022 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 4,445 K, a radius of 0.68 R☉, a mass of 0.71 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.162 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 3.63 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.06 dex (metal-rich relative to the Sun). From Earth, Kepler-1022 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 15.758 (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-1022 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 4,445 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.6800 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.7100 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.162 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.060 dex |
| Stellar Age | 3.630 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 15.758 · G: 15.377 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.080500 AU |
| Orbital Period | 10.995 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 79.7 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.7100° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 2.59 g/cm³ (18.1 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 19.2580 S⊕ (~26,210 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 1370.000 LY (420.042 pc) |