Kepler-1040 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-1040 b is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-1040, located approximately 1572.5 light-years (482.12 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2016 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0395% across the stellar disk), this world measures 2.08 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 4.98 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 3.05 g/cm³ (an intermediate density indicative of a deep water-ice mantle or dense volatile envelope), a surface gravity of 1.15 g⊕ (11.28 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 17.3 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-1040, Kepler-1040 b completes one full revolution every 201.121 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.67249 AU (situated at an orbital separation between Mercury's 0.39 AU and Venus's 0.72 AU). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 36.4 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.
✓ Classified as a Temperate Habitable Zone Candidate.
With an estimated equilibrium temperature of 300 K (+27°C / +81°F) and an incident stellar irradiance of 2.12 S⊕ (~2,887 W/m²), Kepler-1040 b orbits within the empirical circumstellar habitable zone where a rocky surface under sufficient atmospheric pressure can maintain liquid surface water.
The host star Kepler-1040 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,694 K, a radius of 0.96 R☉, a mass of 0.98 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.869 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 4.17 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.01 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, Kepler-1040 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 13.614 (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-1040 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,694 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.9600 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.9800 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.869 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.010 dex |
| Stellar Age | 4.170 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 13.614 · G: 13.322 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.672490 AU |
| Orbital Period | 201.121 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 36.4 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 90.0000° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 3.05 g/cm³ (17.3 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 2.1210 S⊕ (~2,887 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | ★ Temperate Zone |
| Celestial Distance | 1572.500 LY (482.119 pc) |