Kepler-187 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-187 b is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-187, located approximately 3728 light-years (1143 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2014 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0101% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.41 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 2.57 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 5.06 g/cm³ (a terrestrial silicate-iron composition comparable to Earth (5.51 g/cm³)), a surface gravity of 1.29 g⊕ (12.65 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 15.1 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-187, Kepler-187 b completes one full revolution every 4.939 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.059 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 130 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 1244 K (+971°C / +1780°F) and receiving 902.24 S⊕ (~1,227,947 W/m²), Kepler-187 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-187 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 6,105 K, a radius of 1.287 R☉, a mass of 1.081 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 2.064 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 6.46 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.04 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, Kepler-187 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 14.297 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere. The Kepler-187 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 2 confirmed worlds, with Kepler-187 b sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside Kepler-187 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-187 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 6,105 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.2870 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.0810 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 2.064 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.040 dex |
| Stellar Age | 6.460 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 14.297 · G: 14.175 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 2 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.059000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 4.939 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 130 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 84.6700° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 5.06 g/cm³ (15.1 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 902.2390 S⊕ (~1,227,947 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 3728.000 LY (1143.000 pc) |