Kepler-235 e
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-235 e is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-235, located approximately 1396 light-years (428.02 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2014 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.135% across the stellar disk), this world measures 2.22 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 5.56 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 2.8 g/cm³ (an intermediate density indicative of a deep water-ice mantle or dense volatile envelope), a surface gravity of 1.13 g⊕ (11.08 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 17.7 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-235, Kepler-235 e completes one full revolution every 46.184 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.213 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 50.2 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.
☁️ Atmospheric Regime (Volatile / Gas Envelope): With a radius of 2.220 R⊕, Kepler-235 e exceeds the empirical ~1.8–2.2 R⊕ Fulton radius valley threshold, indicating a substantial hydrogen-helium or supercritical volatile envelope without a conventional solid terrestrial surface.
The host star Kepler-235 is classified as a low-mass red dwarf of spectral type M0 V with an effective photospheric temperature of 4,255 K, a radius of 0.554 R☉, a mass of 0.581 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.09 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 6 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.51 dex (metal-poor relative to the Sun). From Earth, Kepler-235 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 16.567 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere. The Kepler-235 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 4 confirmed worlds, with Kepler-235 e sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside Kepler-235 b, Kepler-235 c, Kepler-235 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-235 |
| Spectral Type | M0 V |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 4,255 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.5540 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.5810 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.09 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.510 dex |
| Stellar Age | 6.000 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 16.567 · G: 15.970 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 4 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.213000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 46.184 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 50.2 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.9971° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 2.8 g/cm³ (17.7 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 1.3300 S⊕ (~1,810 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 1396.000 LY (428.018 pc) |