Kepler-1491 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-1491 b is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-1491, located approximately 6737 light-years (2065.59 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2016 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0196% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.51 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 2.89 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 4.63 g/cm³ (a terrestrial silicate-iron composition comparable to Earth (5.51 g/cm³)), a surface gravity of 1.27 g⊕ (12.45 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 15.5 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-1491, Kepler-1491 b completes one full revolution every 16.586 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.127 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 83.3 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 821 K (+548°C / +1018°F) and receiving 138.11 S⊕ (~187,965 W/m²), Kepler-1491 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-1491 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,728 K, a radius of 0.99 R☉, a mass of 1 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.947 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 4.57 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.06 dex (metal-rich relative to the Sun). From Earth, Kepler-1491 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 15.796 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere. The Kepler-1491 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 2 confirmed worlds, with Kepler-1491 b sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside Kepler-1491 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-1491 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,728 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.9900 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.0000 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.947 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.060 dex |
| Stellar Age | 4.570 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 15.796 · G: 15.570 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 2 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.127000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 16.586 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 83.3 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.4700° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 4.63 g/cm³ (15.5 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 138.1080 S⊕ (~187,965 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 6737.000 LY (2065.590 pc) |