Kepler-145 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-145 b is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-145, located approximately 1848.8 light-years (566.85 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2013 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0172% across the stellar disk), this world measures 2.65 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 37.1 Earth masses (0.12 Jupiter masses). Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 10.99 g/cm³ (an iron-enriched, high-compression rocky core), a surface gravity of 5.28 g⊕ (51.78 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 41.9 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-145, Kepler-145 b completes one full revolution every 22.951 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.17308 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 82 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s). The planet follows a highly eccentric trajectory (e = 0.43, swinging from 0.0987 AU at periapsis out to 0.2475 AU at apoapsis), pointing to past dynamical scattering or secular gravitational perturbations.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 873 K (+600°C / +1112°F) and receiving 154.71 S⊕ (~210,554 W/m²), Kepler-145 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-145 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 6,022 K, a radius of 1.85 R☉, a mass of 1.32 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 4.038 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 3.24 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.001 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, Kepler-145 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 11.977 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere. The Kepler-145 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 2 confirmed worlds, with Kepler-145 b sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside Kepler-145 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-145 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 6,022 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.8500 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.3200 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 4.038 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.001 dex |
| Stellar Age | 3.240 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 11.977 · G: 11.875 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 2 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.173080 AU |
| Orbital Period | 22.951 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 82 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.43000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 88.3900° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 10.99 g/cm³ (41.9 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 154.7050 S⊕ (~210,554 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 1848.800 LY (566.850 pc) |