Kepler-1579 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-1579 b is a confirmed terrestrial exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-1579, located approximately 1519.9 light-years (466 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2016 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0121% across the stellar disk), this world measures 0.84 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 0.52 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 4.84 g/cm³ (a terrestrial silicate-iron composition comparable to Earth (5.51 g/cm³)), a surface gravity of 0.74 g⊕ (7.26 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 8.8 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-1579, Kepler-1579 b completes one full revolution every 0.85 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.014 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 179.2 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 1139 K (+866°C / +1591°F) and receiving 396.64 S⊕ (~539,827 W/m²), Kepler-1579 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-1579 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 4,584 K, a radius of 0.7 R☉, a mass of 0.75 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.194 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 2.24 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.11 dex (metal-rich relative to the Sun). From Earth, Kepler-1579 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 15.49 (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-1579 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 4,584 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.7000 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.7500 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.194 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.110 dex |
| Stellar Age | 2.240 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 15.490 · G: 15.248 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.014000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 0.85 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 179.2 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 81.8600° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 4.84 g/cm³ (8.8 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 396.6400 S⊕ (~539,827 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 1519.900 LY (466.000 pc) |