Kepler-1290 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-1290 b is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-1290, located approximately 5197.9 light-years (1593.7 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2016 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0196% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.42 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 2.6 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 5.01 g/cm³ (a terrestrial silicate-iron composition comparable to Earth (5.51 g/cm³)), a surface gravity of 1.29 g⊕ (12.65 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 15.1 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-1290, Kepler-1290 b completes one full revolution every 4.695 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.0557 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 129.1 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 1098 K (+825°C / +1517°F) and receiving 443.22 S⊕ (~603,224 W/m²), Kepler-1290 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-1290 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,660 K, a radius of 0.93 R☉, a mass of 0.95 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.796 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 4.07 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.02 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, Kepler-1290 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 15.871 (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-1290 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,660 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.9300 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.9500 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.796 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.020 dex |
| Stellar Age | 4.070 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 15.871 · G: 15.691 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.055700 AU |
| Orbital Period | 4.695 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 129.1 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.0000° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 5.01 g/cm³ (15.1 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 443.2210 S⊕ (~603,224 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 5197.900 LY (1593.700 pc) |