Kepler-285 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-285 b is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-285, located approximately 2688.5 light-years (824.31 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2014 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0231% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.34 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 2.36 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 5.41 g/cm³ (a terrestrial silicate-iron composition comparable to Earth (5.51 g/cm³)), a surface gravity of 1.31 g⊕ (12.85 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 14.8 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-285, Kepler-285 b completes one full revolution every 2.634 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.036 AU (an ultra-close orbit less than one-seventh of Mercury's 0.387 AU distance from the Sun, where strong stellar tidal forces typically induce synchronous rotation). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 148.7 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 1131 K (+858°C / +1576°F) and receiving 428.41 S⊕ (~583,062 W/m²), Kepler-285 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-285 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,411 K, a radius of 0.808 R☉, a mass of 0.915 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.502 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 2.88 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.17 dex (metal-rich relative to the Sun). From Earth, Kepler-285 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 15.198 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere. The Kepler-285 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 2 confirmed worlds, with Kepler-285 b sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside Kepler-285 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-285 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,411 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.8080 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.9150 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.502 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.170 dex |
| Stellar Age | 2.880 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 15.198 · G: 15.152 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 2 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.036000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 2.634 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 148.7 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 88.8200° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 5.41 g/cm³ (14.8 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 428.4070 S⊕ (~583,062 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 2688.500 LY (824.310 pc) |