Kepler-1826 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-1826 b is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-1826, located approximately 1099 light-years (336.95 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2021 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0774% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.475 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 2.78 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 4.78 g/cm³ (a terrestrial silicate-iron composition comparable to Earth (5.51 g/cm³)), a surface gravity of 1.28 g⊕ (12.55 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 15.4 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-1826, Kepler-1826 b completes one full revolution every 1.615 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.0213 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 143.5 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 806 K (+533°C / +991°F) and receiving 99.32 S⊕ (~135,175 W/m²), Kepler-1826 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-1826 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 3,821 K, a radius of 0.486 R☉, a mass of 0.49 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.045 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 5.62 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.28 dex (metal-poor relative to the Sun). From Earth, Kepler-1826 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 16.83 (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-1826 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 3,821 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.4860 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.4900 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.045 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.280 dex |
| Stellar Age | 5.620 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 16.830 · G: 15.665 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.021300 AU |
| Orbital Period | 1.615 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 143.5 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 78.6900° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 4.78 g/cm³ (15.4 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 99.3200 S⊕ (~135,175 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 1099.000 LY (336.952 pc) |