Kepler-1949 b

Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization

Kepler-1949 b is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-1949, located approximately 8536.6 light-years (2617.35 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2021 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0196% across the stellar disk), this world measures 2.22 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 5.56 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 2.8 g/cm³ (an intermediate density indicative of a deep water-ice mantle or dense volatile envelope), a surface gravity of 1.13 g⊕ (11.08 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 17.7 km/s.

In its orbital architecture around Kepler-1949, Kepler-1949 b completes one full revolution every 2.208 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.0352 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 173.4 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 1709 K (+1436°C / +2617°F) and receiving 2,016.25 S⊕ (~2,744,116 W/m²), Kepler-1949 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.

The host star Kepler-1949 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 6,028 K, a radius of 1.454 R☉, a mass of 1.194 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 2.504 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.14 dex (metal-rich relative to the Sun). From Earth, Kepler-1949 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 15.231 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere.

Discovery Facility: Kepler · Catalogue Source: NASA Exoplanet Archive (IPAC / Caltech).