Kepler-1488 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-1488 b is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-1488, located approximately 2954.4 light-years (905.83 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2016 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0169% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.86 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 4.12 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 3.53 g/cm³ (an intermediate density indicative of a deep water-ice mantle or dense volatile envelope), a surface gravity of 1.19 g⊕ (11.67 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 16.6 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-1488, Kepler-1488 b completes one full revolution every 39.819 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.24153 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 66 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 650 K (+377°C / +711°F) and receiving 73.34 S⊕ (~99,809 W/m²), Kepler-1488 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-1488 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,820 K, a radius of 1.31 R☉, a mass of 1.05 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 1.767 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 6.92 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.06 dex (metal-rich relative to the Sun). From Earth, Kepler-1488 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 13.146 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere. The Kepler-1488 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 2 confirmed worlds, with Kepler-1488 b sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside Kepler-1488 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-1488 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,820 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.3100 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.0500 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 1.767 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.060 dex |
| Stellar Age | 6.920 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 13.146 · G: 13.077 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 2 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.241530 AU |
| Orbital Period | 39.819 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 66 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 88.5100° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 3.53 g/cm³ (16.6 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 73.3350 S⊕ (~99,809 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 2954.400 LY (905.825 pc) |