Kepler-124 c
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-124 c is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-124, located approximately 1370 light-years (420.05 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2014 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0636% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.75 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 3.71 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 3.82 g/cm³ (an intermediate density indicative of a deep water-ice mantle or dense volatile envelope), a surface gravity of 1.21 g⊕ (11.87 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 16.3 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-124, Kepler-124 c completes one full revolution every 13.821 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.1 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 78.7 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.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 560 K (+287°C / +549°F) and receiving 30.72 S⊕ (~41,804 W/m²), Kepler-124 c orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-124 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 4,984 K, a radius of 0.636 R☉, a mass of 0.706 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.224 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 1.82 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.46 dex (metal-poor relative to the Sun). From Earth, Kepler-124 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 14.4 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere. The Kepler-124 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 3 confirmed worlds, with Kepler-124 c sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside Kepler-124 b, Kepler-124 d.
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-124 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 4,984 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.6360 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.7060 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.224 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.460 dex |
| Stellar Age | 1.820 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 14.400 · G: 14.124 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 3 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.100000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 13.821 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 78.7 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 86.0500° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 3.82 g/cm³ (16.3 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 30.7160 S⊕ (~41,804 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 1370.000 LY (420.046 pc) |