Kepler-1487 c
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-1487 c is a confirmed gas giant exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-1487, located approximately 3309.2 light-years (1014.62 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2023 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0341% across the stellar disk), this world measures 7.97 Earth radii (0.71 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 48.7 Earth masses (0.15 Jupiter masses). Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 0.53 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 0.77 g⊕ (7.55 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 27.7 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-1487, Kepler-1487 c completes one full revolution every 35.801 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.2588 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 78.6 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 991 K (+718°C / +1324°F) and receiving 227.68 S⊕ (~309,872 W/m²), Kepler-1487 c orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-1487 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,745 K, a radius of 3.955 R☉, a mass of 1.801 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 15.288 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 1.95 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.4 dex (metal-rich relative to the Sun). From Earth, Kepler-1487 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 13.6 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere. The Kepler-1487 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 2 confirmed worlds, with Kepler-1487 c sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside Kepler-1487 b.
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-1487 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,745 K |
| Stellar Radius | 3.9550 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.8010 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 15.288 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.400 dex |
| Stellar Age | 1.950 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 13.600 · G: 13.451 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 2 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.258800 AU |
| Orbital Period | 35.801 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 78.6 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.9300° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 0.53 g/cm³ (27.7 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 227.6800 S⊕ (~309,872 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 3309.200 LY (1014.620 pc) |