Kepler-1036 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-1036 b is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-1036, located approximately 1596.3 light-years (489.44 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2016 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0961% across the stellar disk), this world measures 3.01 Earth radii (0.27 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 9.32 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 1.88 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 1.03 g⊕ (10.1 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 19.7 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-1036, Kepler-1036 b completes one full revolution every 122.881 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.47726 AU (situated at an orbital separation between Mercury's 0.39 AU and Venus's 0.72 AU). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 42.3 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.
☁️ Atmospheric Regime (Volatile / Gas Envelope): With a radius of 3.010 R⊕, Kepler-1036 b exceeds the empirical ~1.8–2.2 R⊕ Fulton radius valley threshold, indicating a substantial hydrogen-helium or supercritical volatile envelope without a conventional solid terrestrial surface.
The host star Kepler-1036 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,533 K, a radius of 0.89 R☉, a mass of 0.95 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.666 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 3.24 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.04 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, Kepler-1036 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 13.87 (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-1036 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,533 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.8900 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.9500 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.666 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.040 dex |
| Stellar Age | 3.240 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 13.870 · G: 13.764 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.477260 AU |
| Orbital Period | 122.881 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 42.3 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.2400° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 1.88 g/cm³ (19.7 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 2.8210 S⊕ (~3,839 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 1596.300 LY (489.435 pc) |