Kepler-1478 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-1478 b is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-1478, located approximately 6019.5 light-years (1845.58 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2016 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0224% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.73 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 3.64 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 3.88 g/cm³ (an intermediate density indicative of a deep water-ice mantle or dense volatile envelope), a surface gravity of 1.22 g⊕ (11.96 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 16.2 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-1478, Kepler-1478 b completes one full revolution every 26.084 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.1681 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 70.1 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 598 K (+325°C / +617°F) and receiving 85.28 S⊕ (~116,069 W/m²), Kepler-1478 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-1478 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,904 K, a radius of 1.06 R☉, a mass of 1.04 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 1.225 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 3.98 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.03 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, Kepler-1478 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 15.409 (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-1478 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,904 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.0600 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.0400 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 1.225 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.030 dex |
| Stellar Age | 3.980 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 15.409 · G: 15.399 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.168100 AU |
| Orbital Period | 26.084 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 70.1 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.8400° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 3.88 g/cm³ (16.2 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 85.2820 S⊕ (~116,069 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 6019.500 LY (1845.580 pc) |