Kepler-316 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-316 b is a confirmed terrestrial exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-316, located approximately 1255.5 light-years (384.94 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2014 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0349% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.06 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 1.2 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 5.56 g/cm³ (a terrestrial silicate-iron composition comparable to Earth (5.51 g/cm³)), a surface gravity of 1.07 g⊕ (10.49 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 11.9 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-316, Kepler-316 b completes one full revolution every 2.241 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.027 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 131.1 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 837 K (+564°C / +1047°F) and receiving 164.78 S⊕ (~224,260 W/m²), Kepler-316 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-316 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 4,204 K, a radius of 0.52 R☉, a mass of 0.587 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.076 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 3.31 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.23 dex (metal-poor relative to the Sun). From Earth, Kepler-316 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 15.81 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere. The Kepler-316 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 2 confirmed worlds, with Kepler-316 b sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside Kepler-316 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-316 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 4,204 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.5200 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.5870 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.076 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.230 dex |
| Stellar Age | 3.310 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 15.810 · G: 15.194 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 2 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.027000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 2.241 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 131.1 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 87.6300° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 5.56 g/cm³ (11.9 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 164.7760 S⊕ (~224,260 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 1255.500 LY (384.938 pc) |