Kepler-1049 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-1049 b is a confirmed terrestrial exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-1049, located approximately 528.4 light-years (162.01 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2016 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0316% across the stellar disk), this world measures 0.95 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 0.809 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 5.2 g/cm³ (a terrestrial silicate-iron composition comparable to Earth (5.51 g/cm³)), a surface gravity of 0.9 g⊕ (8.83 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 10.3 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-1049, Kepler-1049 b completes one full revolution every 3.273 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.0349 AU (an ultra-close orbit less than one-seventh of Mercury's 0.387 AU distance from the Sun, where strong stellar tidal forces typically induce synchronous rotation). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 116 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 625 K (+352°C / +666°F) and receiving 50.43 S⊕ (~68,631 W/m²), Kepler-1049 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-1049 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 3,864 K, a radius of 0.49 R☉, a mass of 0.51 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.048 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 3.8 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.33 dex (metal-poor relative to the Sun). From Earth, Kepler-1049 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 14.695 (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-1049 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 3,864 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.4900 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.5100 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.048 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.330 dex |
| Stellar Age | 3.800 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 14.695 · G: 14.156 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.034900 AU |
| Orbital Period | 3.273 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 116 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 88.1000° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 5.2 g/cm³ (10.3 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 50.4270 S⊕ (~68,631 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 528.400 LY (162.006 pc) |