Kepler-1196 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-1196 b is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-1196, located approximately 3008.2 light-years (922.33 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2016 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0444% across the stellar disk), this world measures 2.23 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 5.6 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 2.78 g/cm³ (an intermediate density indicative of a deep water-ice mantle or dense volatile envelope), a surface gravity of 1.13 g⊕ (11.08 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 17.7 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-1196, Kepler-1196 b completes one full revolution every 66.185 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.3179 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 52.3 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 436 K (+163°C / +325°F) and receiving 8.30 S⊕ (~11,299 W/m²), Kepler-1196 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-1196 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,756 K, a radius of 0.97 R☉, a mass of 0.98 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.927 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 3.98 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, Kepler-1196 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 15.009 (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-1196 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,756 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.9700 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.9800 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.927 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.000 dex |
| Stellar Age | 3.980 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 15.009 · G: 14.832 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.317900 AU |
| Orbital Period | 66.185 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 52.3 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.0300° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 2.78 g/cm³ (17.7 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 8.3020 S⊕ (~11,299 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 3008.200 LY (922.333 pc) |