Kepler-30 c
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-30 c is a confirmed gas giant exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-30, located approximately 2981.8 light-years (914.22 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2012 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 1.409% across the stellar disk), this world measures 12.3 Earth radii (1.1 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 640 Earth masses (2.01 Jupiter masses). Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 1.9 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 4.23 g⊕ (41.48 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 80.7 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-30, Kepler-30 c completes one full revolution every 60.323 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.3 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 54.1 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s). With a near-circular eccentricity of e = 0.0111 (ranging from 0.2967 AU at periapsis to 0.3033 AU at apoapsis), the planet experiences minimal orbital distance variation.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 411 K (+138°C / +280°F) and receiving 6.22 S⊕ (~8,461 W/m²), Kepler-30 c orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-30 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,498 K, a radius of 0.95 R☉, a mass of 0.99 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.74 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 2 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.18 dex (metal-rich relative to the Sun). From Earth, Kepler-30 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 15.726 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere. The Kepler-30 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 3 confirmed worlds, with Kepler-30 c sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside Kepler-30 b, Kepler-30 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-30 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,498 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.9500 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.9900 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.74 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.180 dex |
| Stellar Age | 2.000 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 15.726 · G: 15.376 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 3 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.300000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 60.323 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 54.1 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.01110 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 90.3227° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 1.9 g/cm³ (80.7 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 6.2170 S⊕ (~8,461 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 2981.800 LY (914.221 pc) |