Kepler-114 d
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-114 d is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-114, located approximately 846.5 light-years (259.53 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2013 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.1845% across the stellar disk), this world measures 2.53 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 3.9 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 1.33 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 0.61 g⊕ (5.98 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 13.9 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-114, Kepler-114 d completes one full revolution every 11.776 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.08358 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 77.2 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 446 K (+173°C / +343°F) and receiving 31.02 S⊕ (~42,213 W/m²), Kepler-114 d orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-114 is classified as a low-mass red dwarf of spectral type M0 V with an effective photospheric temperature of 4,660 K, a radius of 0.54 R☉, a mass of 0.56 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.123 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 2.69 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.229 dex (metal-rich relative to the Sun). From Earth, Kepler-114 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 13.961 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere. The Kepler-114 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 3 confirmed worlds, with Kepler-114 d sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside Kepler-114 b, Kepler-114 c.
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-114 |
| Spectral Type | M0 V |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 4,660 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.5400 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.5600 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.123 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.229 dex |
| Stellar Age | 2.690 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 13.961 · G: 13.713 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 3 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.083580 AU |
| Orbital Period | 11.776 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 77.2 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 88.8700° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 1.33 g/cm³ (13.9 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 31.0160 S⊕ (~42,213 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 846.500 LY (259.533 pc) |