Kepler-1846 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-1846 b is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-1846, located approximately 1221.8 light-years (374.62 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2021 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0488% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.764 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 3.76 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 3.78 g/cm³ (an intermediate density indicative of a deep water-ice mantle or dense volatile envelope), a surface gravity of 1.21 g⊕ (11.87 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 16.3 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-1846, Kepler-1846 b completes one full revolution every 14.82 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.11054 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 81.1 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 552 K (+279°C / +534°F) and receiving 24.50 S⊕ (~33,345 W/m²), Kepler-1846 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-1846 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 4,825 K, a radius of 0.732 R☉, a mass of 0.785 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.261 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 14 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.08 dex (metal-rich relative to the Sun). From Earth, Kepler-1846 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 14.412 (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-1846 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 4,825 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.7320 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.7850 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.261 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.080 dex |
| Stellar Age | 14.000 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 14.412 · G: 14.128 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.110540 AU |
| Orbital Period | 14.82 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 81.1 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.8800° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 3.78 g/cm³ (16.3 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 24.5000 S⊕ (~33,345 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 1221.800 LY (374.615 pc) |