Kepler-264 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-264 b is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-264, located approximately 3073 light-years (942.17 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2014 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0388% across the stellar disk), this world measures 3.33 Earth radii (0.3 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 11.1 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 1.66 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 1 g⊕ (9.81 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 20.4 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-264, Kepler-264 b completes one full revolution every 40.806 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.249 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 66.4 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 772 K (+499°C / +930°F) and receiving 79.48 S⊕ (~108,170 W/m²), Kepler-264 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-264 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 6,158 K, a radius of 1.55 R☉, a mass of 1.426 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 3.1 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 2.45 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.047 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, Kepler-264 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 13.15 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere. The Kepler-264 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 2 confirmed worlds, with Kepler-264 b sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside Kepler-264 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-264 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 6,158 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.5500 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.4260 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 3.1 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.047 dex |
| Stellar Age | 2.450 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 13.150 · G: 13.014 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 2 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.249000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 40.806 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 66.4 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.9600° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 1.66 g/cm³ (20.4 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 79.4780 S⊕ (~108,170 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 3073.000 LY (942.173 pc) |