Kepler-1406 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-1406 b is a confirmed terrestrial exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-1406, located approximately 1866.9 light-years (572.4 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2016 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0081% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.1 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 1.37 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 5.68 g/cm³ (a terrestrial silicate-iron composition comparable to Earth (5.51 g/cm³)), a surface gravity of 1.13 g⊕ (11.08 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 12.5 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-1406, Kepler-1406 b completes one full revolution every 11.629 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.0987 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 92.3 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 854 K (+581°C / +1078°F) and receiving 125.89 S⊕ (~171,336 W/m²), Kepler-1406 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-1406 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,892 K, a radius of 1.12 R☉, a mass of 1.05 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 1.356 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 5.01 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.04 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, Kepler-1406 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 13.39 (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-1406 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,892 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.1200 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.0500 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 1.356 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.040 dex |
| Stellar Age | 5.010 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 13.390 · G: 13.382 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.098700 AU |
| Orbital Period | 11.629 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 92.3 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 85.6700° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 5.68 g/cm³ (12.5 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 125.8900 S⊕ (~171,336 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 1866.900 LY (572.403 pc) |