Kepler-1160 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-1160 b is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-1160, located approximately 3514.8 light-years (1077.63 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2016 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0486% across the stellar disk), this world measures 2.14 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 5.22 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 2.94 g/cm³ (an intermediate density indicative of a deep water-ice mantle or dense volatile envelope), a surface gravity of 1.14 g⊕ (11.18 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 17.5 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-1160, Kepler-1160 b completes one full revolution every 7.97 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.0755 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 103.1 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 839 K (+566°C / +1051°F) and receiving 93.31 S⊕ (~126,992 W/m²), Kepler-1160 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-1160 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,519 K, a radius of 0.89 R☉, a mass of 0.92 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.659 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 4.57 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.01 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, Kepler-1160 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 16.006 (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-1160 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,519 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.8900 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.9200 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.659 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.010 dex |
| Stellar Age | 4.570 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 16.006 · G: 15.800 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.075500 AU |
| Orbital Period | 7.97 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 103.1 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.7400° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 2.94 g/cm³ (17.5 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 93.3080 S⊕ (~126,992 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 3514.800 LY (1077.630 pc) |