Kepler-164 c
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-164 c is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-164, located approximately 2905.3 light-years (890.76 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2014 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0475% across the stellar disk), this world measures 2.73 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 7.9 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 2.14 g/cm³ (an intermediate density indicative of a deep water-ice mantle or dense volatile envelope), a surface gravity of 1.06 g⊕ (10.4 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 19 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-164, Kepler-164 c completes one full revolution every 10.946 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.097 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 96.4 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 881 K (+608°C / +1126°F) and receiving 131.49 S⊕ (~178,954 W/m²), Kepler-164 c orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-164 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,888 K, a radius of 1.148 R☉, a mass of 1.036 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 1.421 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 0.62 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, Kepler-164 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 14.379 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere. The Kepler-164 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 4 confirmed worlds, with Kepler-164 c sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside Kepler-164 b, Kepler-164 d, Kepler-164 e.
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-164 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,888 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.1480 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.0360 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 1.421 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.000 dex |
| Stellar Age | 0.620 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 14.379 · G: 14.233 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 4 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.097000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 10.946 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 96.4 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 87.1700° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 2.14 g/cm³ (19 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 131.4870 S⊕ (~178,954 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 2905.300 LY (890.758 pc) |