Kepler-226 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-226 b is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-226, located approximately 3196.8 light-years (980.14 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2014 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0314% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.55 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 24 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 35.54 g/cm³ (an iron-enriched, high-compression rocky core), a surface gravity of 9.99 g⊕ (97.97 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 44 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-226, Kepler-226 b completes one full revolution every 3.941 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.047 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 129.7 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 1018 K (+745°C / +1373°F) and receiving 270.40 S⊕ (~368,017 W/m²), Kepler-226 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-226 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,571 K, a radius of 0.802 R☉, a mass of 0.904 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.556 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 4.17 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.09 dex (metal-rich relative to the Sun). From Earth, Kepler-226 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 15.563 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere. The Kepler-226 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 3 confirmed worlds, with Kepler-226 b sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside Kepler-226 c, Kepler-226 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-226 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,571 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.8020 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.9040 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.556 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.090 dex |
| Stellar Age | 4.170 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 15.563 · G: 15.403 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 3 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.047000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 3.941 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 129.7 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 88.8800° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 35.54 g/cm³ (44 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 270.4020 S⊕ (~368,017 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 3196.800 LY (980.138 pc) |