Kepler-1716 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-1716 b is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-1716, located approximately 637.4 light-years (195.44 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2021 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.1056% across the stellar disk), this world measures 2.425 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 6.46 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 2.5 g/cm³ (an intermediate density indicative of a deep water-ice mantle or dense volatile envelope), a surface gravity of 1.1 g⊕ (10.79 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 18.3 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-1716, Kepler-1716 b completes one full revolution every 35.581 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.18836 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 57.6 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 408 K (+135°C / +275°F) and receiving 6.30 S⊕ (~8,574 W/m²), Kepler-1716 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-1716 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 4,894 K, a radius of 0.684 R☉, a mass of 0.753 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.241 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 7.9 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.24 dex (metal-poor relative to the Sun). From Earth, Kepler-1716 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 13.129 (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-1716 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 4,894 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.6840 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.7530 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.241 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.240 dex |
| Stellar Age | 7.900 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 13.129 · G: 12.940 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.188360 AU |
| Orbital Period | 35.581 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 57.6 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 90.0000° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 2.5 g/cm³ (18.3 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 6.3000 S⊕ (~8,574 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 637.400 LY (195.439 pc) |