Kepler-1502 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-1502 b is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-1502, located approximately 4938.1 light-years (1514.02 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2016 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0287% across the stellar disk), this world measures 3.18 Earth radii (0.28 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 10.2 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 1.75 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 1.01 g⊕ (9.9 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 20 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-1502, Kepler-1502 b completes one full revolution every 41.708 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.2482 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 64.7 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 608 K (+335°C / +635°F) and receiving 77.32 S⊕ (~105,238 W/m²), Kepler-1502 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-1502 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 6,666 K, a radius of 1.72 R☉, a mass of 1.44 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 5.241 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 1.7 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.05 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, Kepler-1502 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 14.18 (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-1502 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 6,666 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.7200 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.4400 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 5.241 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.050 dex |
| Stellar Age | 1.700 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 14.180 · G: 14.093 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.248200 AU |
| Orbital Period | 41.708 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 64.7 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 88.6500° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 1.75 g/cm³ (20 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 77.3240 S⊕ (~105,238 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 4938.100 LY (1514.020 pc) |