Kepler-125 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-125 b is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-125, located approximately 598.1 light-years (183.37 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2014 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.1801% across the stellar disk), this world measures 2.37 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 6.21 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 2.57 g/cm³ (an intermediate density indicative of a deep water-ice mantle or dense volatile envelope), a surface gravity of 1.11 g⊕ (10.89 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 18.1 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-125, Kepler-125 b completes one full revolution every 4.164 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.041 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 107.1 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 590 K (+317°C / +603°F) and receiving 33.18 S⊕ (~45,163 W/m²), Kepler-125 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-125 is classified as a low-mass red dwarf of spectral type M1 V with an effective photospheric temperature of 3,810 K, a radius of 0.512 R☉, a mass of 0.5421 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.05 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 1.09 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.14 dex (metal-poor relative to the Sun). From Earth, Kepler-125 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 15.431 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere. The Kepler-125 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 2 confirmed worlds, with Kepler-125 b sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside Kepler-125 c.
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-125 |
| Spectral Type | M1 V |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 3,810 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.5120 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.5421 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.05 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.140 dex |
| Stellar Age | 1.090 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 15.431 · G: 14.768 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 2 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.041000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 4.164 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 107.1 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 87.7300° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 2.57 g/cm³ (18.1 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 33.1840 S⊕ (~45,163 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 598.100 LY (183.365 pc) |