Kepler-130 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-130 b is a confirmed terrestrial exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-130, located approximately 1032.8 light-years (316.66 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2014 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0069% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.02 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 1.04 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 5.4 g/cm³ (a terrestrial silicate-iron composition comparable to Earth (5.51 g/cm³)), a surface gravity of 1 g⊕ (9.81 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 11.3 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-130, Kepler-130 b completes one full revolution every 8.457 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.079 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 101.6 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s). Its moderate orbital eccentricity of e = 0.15 carries the world between 0.0672 AU at periapsis and 0.0909 AU at apoapsis, driving measurable seasonal insolation cycles.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 982 K (+709°C / +1308°F) and receiving 221.73 S⊕ (~301,776 W/m²), Kepler-130 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-130 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,884 K, a radius of 1.127 R☉, a mass of 0.927 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 1.366 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 5.89 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.199 dex (metal-poor relative to the Sun). From Earth, Kepler-130 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 11.572 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere. The Kepler-130 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 3 confirmed worlds, with Kepler-130 b sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside Kepler-130 c, Kepler-130 d.
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-130 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,884 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.1270 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.9270 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 1.366 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.199 dex |
| Stellar Age | 5.890 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 11.572 · G: 11.825 |
| System Architecture | 2 Stars, 3 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.079000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 8.457 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 101.6 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.15000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 88.3600° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 5.4 g/cm³ (11.3 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 221.7310 S⊕ (~301,776 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 1032.800 LY (316.663 pc) |