Kepler-1401 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-1401 b is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-1401, located approximately 4649.1 light-years (1425.43 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2016 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0196% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.68 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 3.46 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 4.02 g/cm³ (a terrestrial silicate-iron composition comparable to Earth (5.51 g/cm³)), a surface gravity of 1.23 g⊕ (12.06 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 16.1 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-1401, Kepler-1401 b completes one full revolution every 11.201 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.0975 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 94.7 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 808 K (+535°C / +995°F) and receiving 100.91 S⊕ (~137,339 W/m²), Kepler-1401 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-1401 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,964 K, a radius of 1.1 R☉, a mass of 1.07 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 1.373 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 3.55 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.04 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, Kepler-1401 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 15.224 (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-1401 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,964 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.1000 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.0700 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 1.373 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.040 dex |
| Stellar Age | 3.550 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 15.224 · G: 14.972 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.097500 AU |
| Orbital Period | 11.201 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 94.7 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 81.7100° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 4.02 g/cm³ (16.1 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 100.9100 S⊕ (~137,339 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 4649.100 LY (1425.430 pc) |