Kepler-1271 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-1271 b is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-1271, located approximately 2713.6 light-years (831.99 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2016 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0122% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.48 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 2.79 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 4.75 g/cm³ (a terrestrial silicate-iron composition comparable to Earth (5.51 g/cm³)), a surface gravity of 1.27 g⊕ (12.45 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 15.4 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-1271, Kepler-1271 b completes one full revolution every 3.026 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.04233 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 152.2 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 1484 K (+1211°C / +2212°F) and receiving 975.18 S⊕ (~1,327,221 W/m²), Kepler-1271 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-1271 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 6,143 K, a radius of 1.23 R☉, a mass of 1.13 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 1.933 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 3.63 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.01 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, Kepler-1271 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 14.075 (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-1271 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 6,143 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.2300 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.1300 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 1.933 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.010 dex |
| Stellar Age | 3.630 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 14.075 · G: 13.868 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.042330 AU |
| Orbital Period | 3.026 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 152.2 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 79.1300° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 4.75 g/cm³ (15.4 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 975.1810 S⊕ (~1,327,221 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 2713.600 LY (831.991 pc) |