Kepler-155 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-155 b is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-155, located approximately 957.3 light-years (293.5 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2014 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0955% across the stellar disk), this world measures 2.09 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 5.02 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 3.03 g/cm³ (an intermediate density indicative of a deep water-ice mantle or dense volatile envelope), a surface gravity of 1.15 g⊕ (11.28 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 17.3 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-155, Kepler-155 b completes one full revolution every 5.931 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.056 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 102.7 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 614 K (+341°C / +646°F) and receiving 23.50 S⊕ (~31,984 W/m²), Kepler-155 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-155 is classified as a low-mass red dwarf of spectral type M0 V with an effective photospheric temperature of 4,508 K, a radius of 0.62 R☉, a mass of 0.635 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.142 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 2.9 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.142 dex (metal-poor relative to the Sun). From Earth, Kepler-155 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 14.654 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere. The Kepler-155 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 2 confirmed worlds, with Kepler-155 b sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside Kepler-155 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-155 |
| Spectral Type | M0 V |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 4,508 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.6200 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.6350 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.142 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.142 dex |
| Stellar Age | 2.900 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 14.654 · G: 14.240 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 2 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.056000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 5.931 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 102.7 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.8800° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 3.03 g/cm³ (17.3 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 23.5000 S⊕ (~31,984 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 957.300 LY (293.499 pc) |