Kepler-1578 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-1578 b is a confirmed terrestrial exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-1578, located approximately 3470.5 light-years (1064.05 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2016 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0123% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.04 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 1.12 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 5.49 g/cm³ (a terrestrial silicate-iron composition comparable to Earth (5.51 g/cm³)), a surface gravity of 1.04 g⊕ (10.2 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 11.6 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-1578, Kepler-1578 b completes one full revolution every 1.451 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.0252 AU (an ultra-close orbit less than one-seventh of Mercury's 0.387 AU distance from the Sun, where strong stellar tidal forces typically induce synchronous rotation). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 189 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 1700 K (+1427°C / +2601°F) and receiving 1,486.44 S⊕ (~2,023,042 W/m²), Kepler-1578 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-1578 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,545 K, a radius of 0.86 R☉, a mass of 0.9 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.627 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 4.27 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.13 dex (metal-poor relative to the Sun). From Earth, Kepler-1578 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 15.585 (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-1578 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,545 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.8600 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.9000 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.627 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.130 dex |
| Stellar Age | 4.270 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 15.585 · G: 15.328 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.025200 AU |
| Orbital Period | 1.451 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 189 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 86.8500° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 5.49 g/cm³ (11.6 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 1486.4380 S⊕ (~2,023,042 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 3470.500 LY (1064.050 pc) |