Kepler-271 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-271 b is a confirmed terrestrial exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-271, located approximately 1319.4 light-years (404.54 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2014 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0168% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.23 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 2.04 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 6.04 g/cm³ (a terrestrial silicate-iron composition comparable to Earth (5.51 g/cm³)), a surface gravity of 1.35 g⊕ (13.24 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 14.4 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-271, Kepler-271 b completes one full revolution every 10.435 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.08784 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 91.6 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 759 K (+486°C / +907°F) and receiving 75.96 S⊕ (~103,377 W/m²), Kepler-271 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-271 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,555 K, a radius of 0.87 R☉, a mass of 0.9 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.647 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 4.57 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.13 dex (metal-poor relative to the Sun). From Earth, Kepler-271 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 13.578 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere. The Kepler-271 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 3 confirmed worlds, with Kepler-271 b sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside Kepler-271 d, Kepler-271 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-271 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,555 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.8700 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.9000 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.647 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.130 dex |
| Stellar Age | 4.570 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 13.578 · G: 13.428 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 3 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.087840 AU |
| Orbital Period | 10.435 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 91.6 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.5700° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 6.04 g/cm³ (14.4 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 75.9570 S⊕ (~103,377 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 1319.400 LY (404.542 pc) |