Kepler-140 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-140 b is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-140, located approximately 1904.3 light-years (583.86 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2014 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0131% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.61 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 3.22 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 4.25 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 15.8 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-140, Kepler-140 b completes one full revolution every 3.254 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.045 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 150.4 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 1301 K (+1028°C / +1882°F) and receiving 848.70 S⊕ (~1,155,074 W/m²), Kepler-140 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-140 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 6,077 K, a radius of 1.288 R☉, a mass of 1.044 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 2.03 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 0.88 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.039 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, Kepler-140 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 13.018 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere. The Kepler-140 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 2 confirmed worlds, with Kepler-140 b sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside Kepler-140 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-140 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 6,077 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.2880 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.0440 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 2.03 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.039 dex |
| Stellar Age | 0.880 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 13.018 · G: 12.941 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 2 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.045000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 3.254 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 150.4 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 87.8400° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 4.25 g/cm³ (15.8 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 848.6950 S⊕ (~1,155,074 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 1904.300 LY (583.859 pc) |