Kepler-162 c
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-162 c is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-162, located approximately 2790.7 light-years (855.64 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2014 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0841% across the stellar disk), this world measures 3.03 Earth radii (0.27 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 9.43 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 1.87 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 1.03 g⊕ (10.1 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 19.7 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-162, Kepler-162 c completes one full revolution every 19.446 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.137 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 76.6 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.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 681 K (+408°C / +766°F) and receiving 77.05 S⊕ (~104,868 W/m²), Kepler-162 c orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-162 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,816 K, a radius of 0.958 R☉, a mass of 1.053 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.942 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 4.57 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.1 dex (metal-rich relative to the Sun). From Earth, Kepler-162 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 14.351 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere. The Kepler-162 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 2 confirmed worlds, with Kepler-162 c sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside Kepler-162 b.
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-162 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,816 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.9580 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.0530 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.942 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.100 dex |
| Stellar Age | 4.570 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 14.351 · G: 14.223 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 2 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.137000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 19.446 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 76.6 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 88.2100° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 1.87 g/cm³ (19.7 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 77.0520 S⊕ (~104,868 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 2790.700 LY (855.641 pc) |