Kepler-1462 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-1462 b is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-1462, located approximately 3319.7 light-years (1017.82 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2016 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.1227% across the stellar disk), this world measures 3.82 Earth radii (0.34 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 14 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 1.38 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 0.96 g⊕ (9.41 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 21.4 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-1462, Kepler-1462 b completes one full revolution every 65.649 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.3094 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 51.3 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 390 K (+117°C / +243°F) and receiving 4.70 S⊕ (~6,402 W/m²), Kepler-1462 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-1462 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,756 K, a radius of 1 R☉, a mass of 1 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.985 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 4.07 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.06 dex (metal-rich relative to the Sun). From Earth, Kepler-1462 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 15.888 (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-1462 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,756 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.0000 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.0000 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.985 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.060 dex |
| Stellar Age | 4.070 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 15.888 · G: 15.856 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.309400 AU |
| Orbital Period | 65.649 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 51.3 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.9700° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 1.38 g/cm³ (21.4 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 4.7040 S⊕ (~6,402 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 3319.700 LY (1017.820 pc) |