Kepler-1612 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-1612 b is a confirmed terrestrial exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-1612, located approximately 2494.2 light-years (764.73 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2016 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0101% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.03 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 1.08 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 5.45 g/cm³ (a terrestrial silicate-iron composition comparable to Earth (5.51 g/cm³)), a surface gravity of 1.02 g⊕ (10 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 11.5 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-1612, Kepler-1612 b completes one full revolution every 3.918 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.0482 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 133.8 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 1030 K (+757°C / +1395°F) and receiving 269.25 S⊕ (~366,447 W/m²), Kepler-1612 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-1612 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,643 K, a radius of 0.94 R☉, a mass of 0.96 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.804 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 4.57 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.03 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, Kepler-1612 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 14.936 (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-1612 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,643 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.9400 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.9600 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.804 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.030 dex |
| Stellar Age | 4.570 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 14.936 · G: 14.716 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.048200 AU |
| Orbital Period | 3.918 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 133.8 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 88.2700° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 5.45 g/cm³ (11.5 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 269.2480 S⊕ (~366,447 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 2494.200 LY (764.726 pc) |