Kepler-1229 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-1229 b is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-1229, located approximately 865.9 light-years (265.48 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2016 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0633% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.4 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 2.54 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 5.1 g/cm³ (a terrestrial silicate-iron composition comparable to Earth (5.51 g/cm³)), a surface gravity of 1.3 g⊕ (12.75 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 15.1 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-1229, Kepler-1229 b completes one full revolution every 86.829 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.3006 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 37.7 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.
✓ Classified as a Temperate Habitable Zone Candidate.
With an estimated equilibrium temperature of 212 K (-61°C / -78°F) and an incident stellar irradiance of 0.52 S⊕ (~713 W/m²), Kepler-1229 b orbits within the empirical circumstellar habitable zone where a rocky surface under sufficient atmospheric pressure can maintain liquid surface water.
The host star Kepler-1229 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 3,784 K, a radius of 0.51 R☉, a mass of 0.54 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.048 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 3.72 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.06 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, Kepler-1229 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 16.124 (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-1229 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 3,784 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.5100 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.5400 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.048 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.060 dex |
| Stellar Age | 3.720 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 16.124 · G: 15.510 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.300600 AU |
| Orbital Period | 86.829 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 37.7 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.9971° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 5.1 g/cm³ (15.1 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 0.5240 S⊕ (~713 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | ★ Temperate Zone |
| Celestial Distance | 865.900 LY (265.482 pc) |