Kepler-1901 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-1901 b is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-1901, located approximately 3354.1 light-years (1028.37 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2021 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0215% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.474 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 2.77 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 4.77 g/cm³ (a terrestrial silicate-iron composition comparable to Earth (5.51 g/cm³)), a surface gravity of 1.27 g⊕ (12.45 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 15.3 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-1901, Kepler-1901 b completes one full revolution every 3.484 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.0453 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 141.4 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 1132 K (+859°C / +1578°F) and receiving 389.41 S⊕ (~529,987 W/m²), Kepler-1901 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-1901 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,696 K, a radius of 0.921 R☉, a mass of 1.022 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.801 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 0.7 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.14 dex (metal-rich relative to the Sun). From Earth, Kepler-1901 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 15.097 (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-1901 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,696 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.9210 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.0220 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.801 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.140 dex |
| Stellar Age | 0.700 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 15.097 · G: 14.901 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.045300 AU |
| Orbital Period | 3.484 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 141.4 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.6800° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 4.77 g/cm³ (15.3 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 389.4100 S⊕ (~529,987 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 3354.100 LY (1028.370 pc) |