Kepler-173 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-173 b is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-173, located approximately 2717.4 light-years (833.17 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2014 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0155% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.29 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 2.21 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 5.68 g/cm³ (a terrestrial silicate-iron composition comparable to Earth (5.51 g/cm³)), a surface gravity of 1.33 g⊕ (13.04 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 14.6 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-173, Kepler-173 b completes one full revolution every 4.264 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.048 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 122.5 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 1179 K (+906°C / +1663°F) and receiving 599.50 S⊕ (~815,913 W/m²), Kepler-173 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-173 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 6,031 K, a radius of 0.949 R☉, a mass of 1.067 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 1.069 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 3.3 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.036 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, Kepler-173 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 14.357 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere. The Kepler-173 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 2 confirmed worlds, with Kepler-173 b sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside Kepler-173 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-173 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 6,031 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.9490 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.0670 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 1.069 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.036 dex |
| Stellar Age | 3.300 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 14.357 · G: 14.258 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 2 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.048000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 4.264 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 122.5 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 88.4400° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 5.68 g/cm³ (14.6 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 599.4950 S⊕ (~815,913 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 2717.400 LY (833.165 pc) |