Kepler-295 d
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-295 d is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-295, located approximately 5542 light-years (1699.19 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2014 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0193% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.36 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 2.42 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 5.3 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 14.9 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-295, Kepler-295 d completes one full revolution every 33.884 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.192 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 61.6 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 533 K (+260°C / +500°F) and receiving 104.96 S⊕ (~142,853 W/m²), Kepler-295 d orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-295 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,603 K, a radius of 0.898 R☉, a mass of 0.89 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.713 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 6.46 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.03 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, Kepler-295 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 14.631 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere. The Kepler-295 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 3 confirmed worlds, with Kepler-295 d sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside Kepler-295 b, Kepler-295 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-295 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,603 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.8980 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.8900 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.713 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.030 dex |
| Stellar Age | 6.460 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 14.631 · G: 14.433 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 3 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.192000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 33.884 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 61.6 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 85.8700° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 5.3 g/cm³ (14.9 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 104.9620 S⊕ (~142,853 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 5542.000 LY (1699.190 pc) |