Kepler-196 c
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-196 c is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-196, located approximately 1472 light-years (451.31 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2014 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.069% across the stellar disk), this world measures 2.24 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 5.65 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 2.77 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 17.8 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-196, Kepler-196 c completes one full revolution every 47.428 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.24 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 55.1 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 407 K (+134°C / +273°F) and receiving 6.88 S⊕ (~9,364 W/m²), Kepler-196 c orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-196 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,128 K, a radius of 0.782 R☉, a mass of 0.839 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.379 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 3.09 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.03 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, Kepler-196 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 14.239 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere. The Kepler-196 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 3 confirmed worlds, with Kepler-196 c sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside Kepler-196 b, Kepler-196 d.
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-196 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,128 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.7820 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.8390 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.379 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.030 dex |
| Stellar Age | 3.090 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 14.239 · G: 14.103 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 3 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.240000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 47.428 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 55.1 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.2700° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 2.77 g/cm³ (17.8 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 6.8800 S⊕ (~9,364 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 1472.000 LY (451.312 pc) |