Kepler-1642 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-1642 b is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-1642, located approximately 1349.9 light-years (413.87 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2016 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.122% across the stellar disk), this world measures 3.2 Earth radii (0.29 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 10.3 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 1.73 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 1.01 g⊕ (9.9 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 20.1 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-1642, Kepler-1642 b completes one full revolution every 12.206 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.1016 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 90.6 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 895 K (+622°C / +1152°F) and receiving 39.92 S⊕ (~54,324 W/m²), Kepler-1642 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-1642 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,355 K, a radius of 0.84 R☉, a mass of 0.88 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.521 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 4.47 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.01 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, Kepler-1642 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 14.319 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere. The Kepler-1642 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 2 confirmed worlds, with Kepler-1642 b sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside Kepler-1642 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-1642 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,355 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.8400 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.8800 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.521 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.010 dex |
| Stellar Age | 4.470 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 14.319 · G: 14.101 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 2 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.101600 AU |
| Orbital Period | 12.206 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 90.6 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.8500° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 1.73 g/cm³ (20.1 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 39.9150 S⊕ (~54,324 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 1349.900 LY (413.873 pc) |