Kepler-179 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-179 b is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-179, located approximately 1975.5 light-years (605.68 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2014 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0392% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.64 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 3.33 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 4.16 g/cm³ (a terrestrial silicate-iron composition comparable to Earth (5.51 g/cm³)), a surface gravity of 1.24 g⊕ (12.16 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 15.9 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-179, Kepler-179 b completes one full revolution every 2.736 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.036 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 143.1 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 1075 K (+802°C / +1476°F) and receiving 360.26 S⊕ (~490,317 W/m²), Kepler-179 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-179 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,302 K, a radius of 0.759 R☉, a mass of 0.893 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.408 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 1.74 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.12 dex (metal-rich relative to the Sun). From Earth, Kepler-179 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 14.772 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere. The Kepler-179 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 2 confirmed worlds, with Kepler-179 b sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside Kepler-179 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-179 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,302 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.7590 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.8930 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.408 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.120 dex |
| Stellar Age | 1.740 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 14.772 · G: 14.603 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 2 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.036000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 2.736 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 143.1 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.0000° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 4.16 g/cm³ (15.9 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 360.2620 S⊕ (~490,317 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 1975.500 LY (605.680 pc) |