Kepler-1294 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-1294 b is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-1294, located approximately 6052.5 light-years (1855.7 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2016 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0909% across the stellar disk), this world measures 3.19 Earth radii (0.28 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 10.3 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 1.75 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 1.01 g⊕ (9.9 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 20.1 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-1294, Kepler-1294 b completes one full revolution every 115.686 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.4684 AU (situated at an orbital separation between Mercury's 0.39 AU and Venus's 0.72 AU). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 44 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 401 K (+128°C / +262°F) and receiving 12.36 S⊕ (~16,825 W/m²), Kepler-1294 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-1294 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,776 K, a radius of 0.97 R☉, a mass of 0.99 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.94 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 3.98 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.03 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, Kepler-1294 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 15.361 (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-1294 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,776 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.9700 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.9900 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.94 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.030 dex |
| Stellar Age | 3.980 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 15.361 · G: 15.150 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.468400 AU |
| Orbital Period | 115.686 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 44 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.9300° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 1.75 g/cm³ (20.1 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 12.3620 S⊕ (~16,825 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 6052.500 LY (1855.700 pc) |