Kepler-147 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-147 b is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-147, located approximately 3398.6 light-years (1042.02 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2014 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0091% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.53 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 2.96 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 4.56 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-147, Kepler-147 b completes one full revolution every 12.611 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.113 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 97.5 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 953 K (+680°C / +1256°F) and receiving 224.61 S⊕ (~305,694 W/m²), Kepler-147 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-147 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 6,012 K, a radius of 1.468 R☉, a mass of 1.145 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 2.526 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 5.5 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.1 dex (metal-rich relative to the Sun). From Earth, Kepler-147 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 14.134 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere. The Kepler-147 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 2 confirmed worlds, with Kepler-147 b sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside Kepler-147 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-147 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 6,012 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.4680 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.1450 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 2.526 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.100 dex |
| Stellar Age | 5.500 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 14.134 · G: 13.915 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 2 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.113000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 12.611 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 97.5 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 86.2600° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 4.56 g/cm³ (15.6 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 224.6100 S⊕ (~305,694 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 3398.600 LY (1042.020 pc) |