Kepler-1177 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-1177 b is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-1177, located approximately 4239.9 light-years (1299.97 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2016 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0322% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.9 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 4.27 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 3.43 g/cm³ (an intermediate density indicative of a deep water-ice mantle or dense volatile envelope), a surface gravity of 1.18 g⊕ (11.57 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 16.8 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-1177, Kepler-1177 b completes one full revolution every 106.248 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.4301 AU (situated at an orbital separation between Mercury's 0.39 AU and Venus's 0.72 AU). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 44 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 377 K (+104°C / +219°F) and receiving 11.86 S⊕ (~16,144 W/m²), Kepler-1177 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-1177 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,712 K, a radius of 0.97 R☉, a mass of 0.98 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.899 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 4.47 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.02 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, Kepler-1177 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 14.773 (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-1177 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,712 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.9700 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.9800 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.899 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.020 dex |
| Stellar Age | 4.470 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 14.773 · G: 14.508 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.430100 AU |
| Orbital Period | 106.248 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 44 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.3200° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 3.43 g/cm³ (16.8 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 11.8620 S⊕ (~16,144 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 4239.900 LY (1299.970 pc) |