Kepler-1123 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-1123 b is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-1123, located approximately 2297.2 light-years (704.32 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2016 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0289% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.67 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 3.43 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 4.06 g/cm³ (a terrestrial silicate-iron composition comparable to Earth (5.51 g/cm³)), a surface gravity of 1.23 g⊕ (12.06 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 16 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-1123, Kepler-1123 b completes one full revolution every 4.339 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.0497 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 124.6 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 1061 K (+788°C / +1450°F) and receiving 190.02 S⊕ (~258,612 W/m²), Kepler-1123 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-1123 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,500 K, a radius of 0.9 R☉, a mass of 0.93 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.665 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 5.13 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.05 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, Kepler-1123 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 14.933 (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-1123 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,500 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.9000 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.9300 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.665 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.050 dex |
| Stellar Age | 5.130 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 14.933 · G: 14.807 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.049700 AU |
| Orbital Period | 4.339 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 124.6 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 84.4600° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 4.06 g/cm³ (16 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 190.0160 S⊕ (~258,612 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 2297.200 LY (704.323 pc) |