Kepler-176 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-176 b is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-176, located approximately 1719.9 light-years (527.32 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2014 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0217% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.43 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 290.537 Earth masses (0.91 Jupiter masses). Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 547.85 g/cm³ (an iron-enriched, high-compression rocky core), a surface gravity of 142.08 g⊕ (1393.33 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 159.4 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-176, Kepler-176 b completes one full revolution every 5.433 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.058 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 116.1 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 841 K (+568°C / +1054°F) and receiving 123.80 S⊕ (~168,495 W/m²), Kepler-176 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-176 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,232 K, a radius of 0.891 R☉, a mass of 0.86 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.534 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 2.45 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.13 dex (metal-rich relative to the Sun). From Earth, Kepler-176 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 14.767 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere. The Kepler-176 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 4 confirmed worlds, with Kepler-176 b sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside Kepler-176 c, Kepler-176 d, Kepler-176 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-176 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,232 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.8910 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.8600 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.534 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.130 dex |
| Stellar Age | 2.450 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 14.767 · G: 14.545 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 4 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.058000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 5.433 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 116.1 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 86.6900° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 547.85 g/cm³ (159.4 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 123.8020 S⊕ (~168,495 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 1719.900 LY (527.321 pc) |