Kepler-1556 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-1556 b is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-1556, located approximately 3080.7 light-years (944.54 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2016 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0358% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.96 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 4.5 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 3.3 g/cm³ (an intermediate density indicative of a deep water-ice mantle or dense volatile envelope), a surface gravity of 1.17 g⊕ (11.47 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 16.9 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-1556, Kepler-1556 b completes one full revolution every 8.827 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.0829 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 102.2 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 797 K (+524°C / +975°F) and receiving 92.14 S⊕ (~125,400 W/m²), Kepler-1556 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-1556 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,608 K, a radius of 0.95 R☉, a mass of 0.97 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.801 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 4.9 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.08 dex (metal-rich relative to the Sun). From Earth, Kepler-1556 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 15.651 (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-1556 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,608 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.9500 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.9700 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.801 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.080 dex |
| Stellar Age | 4.900 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 15.651 · G: 15.298 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.082900 AU |
| Orbital Period | 8.827 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 102.2 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.5700° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 3.3 g/cm³ (16.9 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 92.1380 S⊕ (~125,400 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 3080.700 LY (944.540 pc) |