Kepler-150 c
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-150 c is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-150, located approximately 2906.4 light-years (891.09 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2014 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.1298% across the stellar disk), this world measures 3.69 Earth radii (0.33 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 13.2 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 1.45 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 0.97 g⊕ (9.51 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 21.2 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-150, Kepler-150 c completes one full revolution every 7.382 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.073 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 107.6 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 876 K (+603°C / +1117°F) and receiving 132.09 S⊕ (~179,776 W/m²), Kepler-150 c orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-150 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,560 K, a radius of 0.939 R☉, a mass of 0.956 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.756 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 1.74 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.12 dex (metal-rich relative to the Sun). From Earth, Kepler-150 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 15.161 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere. The Kepler-150 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 5 confirmed worlds, with Kepler-150 c sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside Kepler-150 b, Kepler-150 d, Kepler-150 e, Kepler-150 f.
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-150 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,560 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.9390 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.9560 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.756 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.120 dex |
| Stellar Age | 1.740 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 15.161 · G: 14.974 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 5 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.073000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 7.382 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 107.6 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.7100° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 1.45 g/cm³ (21.2 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 132.0910 S⊕ (~179,776 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 2906.400 LY (891.092 pc) |