Kepler-1493 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-1493 b is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-1493, located approximately 1810.3 light-years (555.05 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2016 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.01% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.41 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 2.57 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 5.06 g/cm³ (a terrestrial silicate-iron composition comparable to Earth (5.51 g/cm³)), a surface gravity of 1.29 g⊕ (12.65 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 15.1 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-1493, Kepler-1493 b completes one full revolution every 15.022 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.1197 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 86.7 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 874 K (+601°C / +1114°F) and receiving 137.91 S⊕ (~187,696 W/m²), Kepler-1493 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-1493 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,863 K, a radius of 1.29 R☉, a mass of 1.06 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 1.764 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 6.46 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.06 dex (metal-rich relative to the Sun). From Earth, Kepler-1493 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 13.719 (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-1493 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,863 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.2900 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.0600 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 1.764 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.060 dex |
| Stellar Age | 6.460 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 13.719 · G: 13.553 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.119700 AU |
| Orbital Period | 15.022 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 86.7 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 82.4500° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 5.06 g/cm³ (15.1 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 137.9100 S⊕ (~187,696 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 1810.300 LY (555.051 pc) |