Kepler-1600 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-1600 b is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-1600, located approximately 3362 light-years (1030.81 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2016 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.1225% across the stellar disk), this world measures 3.13 Earth radii (0.28 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 9.96 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 1.79 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 1.02 g⊕ (10 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 20 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-1600, Kepler-1600 b completes one full revolution every 386.371 Earth days (1.06Julian years) at a semi-major axis of 0.98141 AU (comparable to the inner terrestrial zone between Venus, Earth at 1.00 AU, and Mars at 1.52 AU). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 27.6 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.
☁️ Atmospheric Regime (Volatile / Gas Envelope): With a radius of 3.130 R⊕, Kepler-1600 b exceeds the empirical ~1.8–2.2 R⊕ Fulton radius valley threshold, indicating a substantial hydrogen-helium or supercritical volatile envelope without a conventional solid terrestrial surface.
The host star Kepler-1600 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,214 K, a radius of 0.82 R☉, a mass of 0.86 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.446 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 4.68 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.07 dex (metal-rich relative to the Sun). From Earth, Kepler-1600 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 16.076 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere. The Kepler-1600 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 2 confirmed worlds, with Kepler-1600 b sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside Kepler-1600 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-1600 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,214 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.8200 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.8600 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.446 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.070 dex |
| Stellar Age | 4.680 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 16.076 · G: 15.814 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 2 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.981410 AU |
| Orbital Period | 386.371 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 27.6 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 90.0000° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 1.79 g/cm³ (20 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 0.4000 S⊕ (~544 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 3362.000 LY (1030.810 pc) |