Kepler-1320 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-1320 b is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-1320, located approximately 2111.6 light-years (647.42 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2016 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0444% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.7 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 3.53 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 3.96 g/cm³ (an intermediate density indicative of a deep water-ice mantle or dense volatile envelope), a surface gravity of 1.22 g⊕ (11.96 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 16.1 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-1320, Kepler-1320 b completes one full revolution every 0.868 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.0163 AU (an ultra-close orbit less than one-seventh of Mercury's 0.387 AU distance from the Sun, where strong stellar tidal forces typically induce synchronous rotation). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 204.2 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 1389 K (+1116°C / +2041°F) and receiving 672.11 S⊕ (~914,746 W/m²), Kepler-1320 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-1320 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 4,817 K, a radius of 0.74 R☉, a mass of 0.8 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.265 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 3.16 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.1 dex (metal-rich relative to the Sun). From Earth, Kepler-1320 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 15.936 (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-1320 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 4,817 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.7400 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.8000 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.265 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.100 dex |
| Stellar Age | 3.160 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 15.936 · G: 15.905 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.016300 AU |
| Orbital Period | 0.868 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 204.2 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 88.7800° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 3.96 g/cm³ (16.1 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 672.1130 S⊕ (~914,746 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 2111.600 LY (647.424 pc) |