Kepler-1280 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-1280 b is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-1280, located approximately 4849 light-years (1486.7 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2016 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0169% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.87 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 4.16 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 3.51 g/cm³ (an intermediate density indicative of a deep water-ice mantle or dense volatile envelope), a surface gravity of 1.19 g⊕ (11.67 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 16.7 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-1280, Kepler-1280 b completes one full revolution every 66.558 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.33982 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 55.5 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 757 K (+484°C / +903°F) and receiving 35.29 S⊕ (~48,034 W/m²), Kepler-1280 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-1280 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 6,227 K, a radius of 1.32 R☉, a mass of 1.2 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 2.35 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 2.82 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.04 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, Kepler-1280 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 14.196 (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-1280 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 6,227 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.3200 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.2000 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 2.35 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.040 dex |
| Stellar Age | 2.820 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 14.196 · G: 14.000 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.339820 AU |
| Orbital Period | 66.558 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 55.5 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.6900° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 3.51 g/cm³ (16.7 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 35.2930 S⊕ (~48,034 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 4849.000 LY (1486.700 pc) |