Kepler-230 c
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-230 c 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 0.0524% across the stellar disk), this world measures 2.04 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 4.82 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 3.13 g/cm³ (an intermediate density indicative of a deep water-ice mantle or dense volatile envelope), a surface gravity of 1.16 g⊕ (11.38 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 17.2 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-230, Kepler-230 c completes one full revolution every 91.773 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.38 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 45 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 359 K (+86°C / +187°F) and receiving 2.98 S⊕ (~4,050 W/m²), Kepler-230 c 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 c sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside Kepler-230 b.
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) | 0.380000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 91.773 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 45 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.6100° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 3.13 g/cm³ (17.2 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 2.9760 S⊕ (~4,050 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 2416.000 LY (740.754 pc) |