Kepler-1624 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-1624 b is a confirmed gas giant exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-1624, located approximately 844.7 light-years (258.98 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2016 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 1.1979% across the stellar disk), this world measures 6.59 Earth radii (0.59 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 35.3 Earth masses (0.11 Jupiter masses). Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 0.68 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 0.81 g⊕ (7.94 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 25.9 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-1624, Kepler-1624 b completes one full revolution every 3.29 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.0327 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 108.1 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 540 K (+267°C / +513°F) and receiving 6.01 S⊕ (~8,180 W/m²), Kepler-1624 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-1624 is classified as a low-mass red dwarf of spectral type M V with an effective photospheric temperature of 3,768 K, a radius of 0.552 R☉, a mass of 0.541 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.055 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 4.47 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.269 dex (metal-rich relative to the Sun). From Earth, Kepler-1624 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 16.597 (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-1624 |
| Spectral Type | M V |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 3,768 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.5520 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.5410 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.055 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.269 dex |
| Stellar Age | 4.470 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 16.597 · G: 15.668 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.032700 AU |
| Orbital Period | 3.29 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 108.1 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.6800° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 0.68 g/cm³ (25.9 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 6.0100 S⊕ (~8,180 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 844.700 LY (258.979 pc) |