Kepler-130 c
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-130 c is a confirmed sub-neptune 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 0.0516% across the stellar disk), this world measures 2.9 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 8.75 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 1.98 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 1.04 g⊕ (10.2 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 19.4 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-130, Kepler-130 c completes one full revolution every 27.509 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.178 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 70.4 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 683 K (+410°C / +770°F) and receiving 46.01 S⊕ (~62,621 W/m²), Kepler-130 c 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 5,879 K, a radius of 1.17 R☉, a mass of 1 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 1.467 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 5.89 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.02 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). 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 c sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside Kepler-130 b, 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) | 5,879 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.1700 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.0000 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 1.467 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.020 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) | 0.178000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 27.509 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 70.4 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.3400° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 1.98 g/cm³ (19.4 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 46.0110 S⊕ (~62,621 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 1032.800 LY (316.663 pc) |