Kepler-1466 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-1466 b is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-1466, located approximately 2061.1 light-years (631.95 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2016 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0194% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.55 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 3.02 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 4.47 g/cm³ (a terrestrial silicate-iron composition comparable to Earth (5.51 g/cm³)), a surface gravity of 1.26 g⊕ (12.36 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 15.6 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-1466, Kepler-1466 b completes one full revolution every 31.175 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.17981 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 62.7 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 585 K (+312°C / +594°F) and receiving 21.88 S⊕ (~29,772 W/m²), Kepler-1466 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-1466 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,884 K, a radius of 1.02 R☉, a mass of 1.01 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 1.119 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 3.89 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.07 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, Kepler-1466 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 14.026 (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-1466 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,884 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.0200 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.0100 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 1.119 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.070 dex |
| Stellar Age | 3.890 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 14.026 · G: 13.869 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.179810 AU |
| Orbital Period | 31.175 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 62.7 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.9900° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 4.47 g/cm³ (15.6 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 21.8750 S⊕ (~29,772 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 2061.100 LY (631.949 pc) |