Kepler-1197 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-1197 b is a confirmed terrestrial exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-1197, located approximately 1588.2 light-years (486.94 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2016 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0253% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.25 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 2.1 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 5.93 g/cm³ (a terrestrial silicate-iron composition comparable to Earth (5.51 g/cm³)), a surface gravity of 1.34 g⊕ (13.14 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 14.5 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-1197, Kepler-1197 b completes one full revolution every 2.032 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.02869 AU (an ultra-close orbit less than one-seventh of Mercury's 0.387 AU distance from the Sun, where strong stellar tidal forces typically induce synchronous rotation). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 153.6 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 1011 K (+738°C / +1360°F) and receiving 267.14 S⊕ (~363,580 W/m²), Kepler-1197 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-1197 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 4,708 K, a radius of 0.72 R☉, a mass of 0.78 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.229 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 2.69 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.06 dex (metal-rich relative to the Sun). From Earth, Kepler-1197 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 15.346 (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-1197 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 4,708 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.7200 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.7800 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.229 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.060 dex |
| Stellar Age | 2.690 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 15.346 · G: 15.113 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.028690 AU |
| Orbital Period | 2.032 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 153.6 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.9600° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 5.93 g/cm³ (14.5 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 267.1420 S⊕ (~363,580 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 1588.200 LY (486.940 pc) |