Kepler-1746 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-1746 b is a confirmed gas giant exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-1746, located approximately 3194.8 light-years (979.54 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2021 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.4057% across the stellar disk), this world measures 8.935 Earth radii (0.8 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 59.1 Earth masses (0.19 Jupiter masses). Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 0.46 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 0.74 g⊕ (7.26 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 28.8 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-1746, Kepler-1746 b completes one full revolution every 321.212 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.94082 AU (comparable to the inner terrestrial zone between Venus, Earth at 1.00 AU, and Mars at 1.52 AU). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 31.9 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.
☁️ Atmospheric Regime (Volatile / Gas Envelope): With a radius of 8.935 R⊕, Kepler-1746 b exceeds the empirical ~1.8–2.2 R⊕ Fulton radius valley threshold, indicating a substantial hydrogen-helium or supercritical volatile envelope without a conventional solid terrestrial surface.
The host star Kepler-1746 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 6,018 K, a radius of 1.286 R☉, a mass of 1.09 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 1.946 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 5.75 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.06 dex (metal-rich relative to the Sun). From Earth, Kepler-1746 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 13.572 (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-1746 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 6,018 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.2860 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.0900 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 1.946 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.060 dex |
| Stellar Age | 5.750 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 13.572 · G: 13.490 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.940820 AU |
| Orbital Period | 321.212 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 31.9 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.8600° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 0.46 g/cm³ (28.8 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 3.4000 S⊕ (~4,627 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 3194.800 LY (979.541 pc) |