Kepler-1948 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-1948 b is a confirmed terrestrial exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-1948, located approximately 632.4 light-years (193.9 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2021 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0289% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.033 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 1.09 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 5.45 g/cm³ (a terrestrial silicate-iron composition comparable to Earth (5.51 g/cm³)), a surface gravity of 1.02 g⊕ (10 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 11.5 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-1948, Kepler-1948 b completes one full revolution every 15.571 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.1022 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 71.4 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 399 K (+126°C / +259°F) and receiving 5.98 S⊕ (~8,139 W/m²), Kepler-1948 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-1948 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 3,872 K, a radius of 0.557 R☉, a mass of 0.585 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.063 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.12 dex (metal-rich relative to the Sun). From Earth, Kepler-1948 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 14.569 (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-1948 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 3,872 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.5570 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.5850 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.063 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.120 dex |
| Stellar Age | — |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 14.569 · G: 13.924 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.102200 AU |
| Orbital Period | 15.571 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 71.4 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.6400° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 5.45 g/cm³ (11.5 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 5.9800 S⊕ (~8,139 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 632.400 LY (193.903 pc) |