Kepler-1961 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-1961 b is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-1961, located approximately 3400 light-years (1042.45 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2021 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0365% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.619 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 3.25 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 4.22 g/cm³ (a terrestrial silicate-iron composition comparable to Earth (5.51 g/cm³)), a surface gravity of 1.24 g⊕ (12.16 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 15.8 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-1961, Kepler-1961 b completes one full revolution every 5.605 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.0588 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 114.1 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 866 K (+593°C / +1099°F) and receiving 132.98 S⊕ (~180,986 W/m²), Kepler-1961 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-1961 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,401 K, a radius of 0.777 R☉, a mass of 0.871 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.461 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.16 dex (metal-poor relative to the Sun). From Earth, Kepler-1961 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 15.809 (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-1961 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,401 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.7770 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.8710 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.461 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.160 dex |
| Stellar Age | — |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 15.809 · G: 15.695 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.058800 AU |
| Orbital Period | 5.605 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 114.1 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.1400° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 4.22 g/cm³ (15.8 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 132.9800 S⊕ (~180,986 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 3400.000 LY (1042.450 pc) |