Kepler-32 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-32 b is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-32, located approximately 1056.2 light-years (323.85 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2011 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.1448% across the stellar disk), this world measures 2.2 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 1303 Earth masses (4.1 Jupiter masses). Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 674.75 g/cm³ (an iron-enriched, high-compression rocky core), a surface gravity of 269.21 g⊕ (2640.05 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 272.2 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-32, Kepler-32 b completes one full revolution every 5.901 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.05 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 92.2 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 514 K (+241°C / +466°F) and receiving 22.03 S⊕ (~29,976 W/m²), Kepler-32 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-32 is classified as a low-mass red dwarf of spectral type M1 V with an effective photospheric temperature of 3,900 K, a radius of 0.53 R☉, a mass of 0.58 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.058 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 5.6 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, Kepler-32 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 16.36 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere. The Kepler-32 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 5 confirmed worlds, with Kepler-32 b sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside Kepler-32 f, Kepler-32 e, Kepler-32 c, Kepler-32 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-32 |
| Spectral Type | M1 V |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 3,900 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.5300 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.5800 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.058 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.000 dex |
| Stellar Age | 5.600 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 16.360 · G: 15.812 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 5 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.050000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 5.901 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 92.2 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.9200° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 674.75 g/cm³ (272.2 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 22.0250 S⊕ (~29,976 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 1056.200 LY (323.847 pc) |