Kepler-1468 c
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-1468 c is a confirmed terrestrial exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-1468, located approximately 6194.5 light-years (1899.24 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2016 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0101% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.15 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 1.6 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 5.8 g/cm³ (a terrestrial silicate-iron composition comparable to Earth (5.51 g/cm³)), a surface gravity of 1.21 g⊕ (11.87 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 13.2 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-1468, Kepler-1468 c completes one full revolution every 3.546 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.0466 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 143 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 1448 K (+1175°C / +2147°F) and receiving 1,479.57 S⊕ (~2,013,691 W/m²), Kepler-1468 c orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-1468 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,893 K, a radius of 1.05 R☉, a mass of 1.04 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 1.193 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 3.55 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.03 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, Kepler-1468 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 15.111 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere. The Kepler-1468 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 3 confirmed worlds, with Kepler-1468 c sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside Kepler-1468 b, Kepler-1468 d.
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-1468 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,893 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.0500 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.0400 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 1.193 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.030 dex |
| Stellar Age | 3.550 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 15.111 · G: 14.952 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 3 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.046600 AU |
| Orbital Period | 3.546 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 143 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 88.7500° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 5.8 g/cm³ (13.2 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 1479.5670 S⊕ (~2,013,691 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 6194.500 LY (1899.240 pc) |