Kepler-1964 b

Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization

Kepler-1964 b is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-1964. First announced in 2021 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0547% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.781 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 3.83 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 3.74 g/cm³ (an intermediate density indicative of a deep water-ice mantle or dense volatile envelope), a surface gravity of 1.21 g⊕ (11.87 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 16.4 km/s.

In its orbital architecture around Kepler-1964, Kepler-1964 b completes one full revolution every 2.441 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.0322 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 143.5 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 986 K (+713°C / +1315°F) and receiving 223.80 S⊕ (~304,592 W/m²), Kepler-1964 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.

The host star Kepler-1964 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 4,803 K, a radius of 0.698 R☉, a mass of 0.752 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.233 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.08 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, Kepler-1964 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 16.363 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere.

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