Kepler-1405 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-1405 b is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-1405, located approximately 4991.2 light-years (1530.3 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2016 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.1151% across the stellar disk), this world measures 3.96 Earth radii (0.35 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 14.9 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 1.32 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 0.95 g⊕ (9.32 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 21.7 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-1405, Kepler-1405 b completes one full revolution every 28.227 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.1778 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 68.5 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 565 K (+292°C / +558°F) and receiving 33.80 S⊕ (~46,005 W/m²), Kepler-1405 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-1405 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,925 K, a radius of 1.07 R☉, a mass of 1.05 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 1.266 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 3.63 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.03 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, Kepler-1405 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 16.028 (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-1405 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,925 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.0700 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.0500 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 1.266 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.030 dex |
| Stellar Age | 3.630 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 16.028 · G: 15.818 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.177800 AU |
| Orbital Period | 28.227 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 68.5 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.9600° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 1.32 g/cm³ (21.7 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 33.8020 S⊕ (~46,005 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 4991.200 LY (1530.300 pc) |