Kepler-130 d
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-130 d is a confirmed super-earth 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 0.0178% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.64 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 3.33 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 4.16 g/cm³ (a terrestrial silicate-iron composition comparable to Earth (5.51 g/cm³)), a surface gravity of 1.24 g⊕ (12.16 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 15.9 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-130, Kepler-130 d completes one full revolution every 87.518 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.377 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 46.9 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s). The planet follows a highly eccentric trajectory (e = 0.8, swinging from 0.0754 AU at periapsis out to 0.6786 AU at apoapsis), pointing to past dynamical scattering or secular gravitational perturbations.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 451 K (+178°C / +352°F) and receiving 9.83 S⊕ (~13,384 W/m²), Kepler-130 d 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 d sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside Kepler-130 b, Kepler-130 c.
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) | 0.377000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 87.518 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 46.9 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.80000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.1600° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 4.16 g/cm³ (15.9 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 9.8340 S⊕ (~13,384 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 1032.800 LY (316.663 pc) |