Kepler-310 c
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-310 c is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-310, located approximately 1964.3 light-years (602.27 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2014 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.1251% across the stellar disk), this world measures 3.38 Earth radii (0.3 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 11.4 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 1.63 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 20.5 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-310, Kepler-310 c completes one full revolution every 56.475 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.281 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). 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 417 K (+144°C / +291°F) and receiving 7.11 S⊕ (~9,675 W/m²), Kepler-310 c orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-310 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,797 K, a radius of 0.876 R☉, a mass of 0.854 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.778 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 1.9 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.12 dex (metal-poor relative to the Sun). From Earth, Kepler-310 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 14.376 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere. The Kepler-310 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 3 confirmed worlds, with Kepler-310 c sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside Kepler-310 b, Kepler-310 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-310 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,797 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.8760 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.8540 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.778 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.120 dex |
| Stellar Age | 1.900 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 14.376 · G: 14.265 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 3 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.281000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 56.475 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 54.1 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 88.8100° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 1.63 g/cm³ (20.5 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 7.1090 S⊕ (~9,675 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 1964.300 LY (602.268 pc) |