Kepler-1917 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-1917 b is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-1917, located approximately 2964.9 light-years (909.04 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2021 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0484% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.89 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 4.23 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 3.45 g/cm³ (an intermediate density indicative of a deep water-ice mantle or dense volatile envelope), a surface gravity of 1.18 g⊕ (11.57 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 16.7 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-1917, Kepler-1917 b completes one full revolution every 12.902 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.103 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 86.8 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 675 K (+402°C / +756°F) and receiving 48.99 S⊕ (~66,675 W/m²), Kepler-1917 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-1917 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,530 K, a radius of 0.788 R☉, a mass of 0.882 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.521 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.22 dex (metal-poor relative to the Sun). From Earth, Kepler-1917 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 15.474 (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-1917 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,530 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.7880 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.8820 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.521 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.220 dex |
| Stellar Age | — |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 15.474 · G: 15.469 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.103000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 12.902 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 86.8 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.4200° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 3.45 g/cm³ (16.7 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 48.9900 S⊕ (~66,675 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 2964.900 LY (909.037 pc) |