Kepler-1142 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-1142 b is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-1142, located approximately 4153.6 light-years (1273.51 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2016 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0197% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.47 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 2.76 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 4.79 g/cm³ (a terrestrial silicate-iron composition comparable to Earth (5.51 g/cm³)), a surface gravity of 1.28 g⊕ (12.55 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 15.3 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-1142, Kepler-1142 b completes one full revolution every 18.303 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.1343 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 79.8 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 902 K (+629°C / +1164°F) and receiving 147.82 S⊕ (~201,179 W/m²), Kepler-1142 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-1142 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,685 K, a radius of 0.96 R☉, a mass of 0.97 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.864 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 5.37 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.02 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, Kepler-1142 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 14.505 (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-1142 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,685 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.9600 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.9700 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.864 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.020 dex |
| Stellar Age | 5.370 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 14.505 · G: 14.278 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.134300 AU |
| Orbital Period | 18.303 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 79.8 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 86.3700° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 4.79 g/cm³ (15.3 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 147.8170 S⊕ (~201,179 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 4153.600 LY (1273.510 pc) |