Kepler-230 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-230 b is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-230, located approximately 2416 light-years (740.75 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2014 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.2285% across the stellar disk), this world measures 4.26 Earth radii (0.38 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 16.8 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 1.2 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 0.93 g⊕ (9.12 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 22.2 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-230, Kepler-230 b completes one full revolution every 32.626 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.191 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 63.7 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 506 K (+233°C / +451°F) and receiving 11.82 S⊕ (~16,082 W/m²), Kepler-230 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-230 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,588 K, a radius of 0.817 R☉, a mass of 0.784 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.584 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 1.8 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.21 dex (metal-poor relative to the Sun). From Earth, Kepler-230 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 15.264 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere. The Kepler-230 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 2 confirmed worlds, with Kepler-230 b sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside Kepler-230 c.
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-230 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,588 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.8170 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.7840 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.584 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.210 dex |
| Stellar Age | 1.800 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 15.264 · G: 15.073 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 2 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.191000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 32.626 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 63.7 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.9800° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 1.2 g/cm³ (22.2 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 11.8160 S⊕ (~16,082 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 2416.000 LY (740.754 pc) |