Kepler-1988 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-1988 b is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-1988, located approximately 1674.6 light-years (513.43 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2023 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0062% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.53 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 2.96 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 4.56 g/cm³ (a terrestrial silicate-iron composition comparable to Earth (5.51 g/cm³)), a surface gravity of 1.26 g⊕ (12.36 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 15.6 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-1988, Kepler-1988 b completes one full revolution every 11.495 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.1038 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 98.2 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 1105 K (+832°C / +1530°F) and receiving 351.79 S⊕ (~478,786 W/m²), Kepler-1988 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-1988 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 6,033 K, a radius of 1.788 R☉, a mass of 1.127 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 3.8 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.1 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, Kepler-1988 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 12.128 (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-1988 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 6,033 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.7880 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.1270 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 3.8 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.100 dex |
| Stellar Age | — |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 12.128 · G: 12.121 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.103800 AU |
| Orbital Period | 11.495 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 98.2 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 79.6700° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 4.56 g/cm³ (15.6 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 351.7900 S⊕ (~478,786 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 1674.600 LY (513.426 pc) |