Kepler-1446 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-1446 b is a confirmed terrestrial exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-1446, located approximately 496 light-years (152.08 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2016 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.01% across the stellar disk), this world measures 0.82 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 0.477 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 4.77 g/cm³ (a terrestrial silicate-iron composition comparable to Earth (5.51 g/cm³)), a surface gravity of 0.71 g⊕ (6.96 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 8.5 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-1446, Kepler-1446 b completes one full revolution every 0.69 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.01405 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 221.5 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 1539 K (+1266°C / +2311°F) and receiving 1,213.33 S⊕ (~1,651,346 W/m²), Kepler-1446 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-1446 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 4,865 K, a radius of 0.75 R☉, a mass of 0.81 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.283 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 2.63 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.11 dex (metal-rich relative to the Sun). From Earth, Kepler-1446 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 12.595 (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-1446 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 4,865 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.7500 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.8100 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.283 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.110 dex |
| Stellar Age | 2.630 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 12.595 · G: 12.409 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.014050 AU |
| Orbital Period | 0.69 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 221.5 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 88.5000° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 4.77 g/cm³ (8.5 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 1213.3330 S⊕ (~1,651,346 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 496.000 LY (152.075 pc) |