Kepler-320 c
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-320 c is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-320, located approximately 2696 light-years (826.61 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2014 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0129% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.37 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 2.45 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 5.25 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 15 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-320, Kepler-320 c completes one full revolution every 17.935 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.142 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 86.1 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 1002 K (+729°C / +1344°F) and receiving 101.62 S⊕ (~138,303 W/m²), Kepler-320 c orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-320 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 6,435 K, a radius of 1.108 R☉, a mass of 1.072 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 1.889 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 2.14 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.123 dex (metal-poor relative to the Sun). From Earth, Kepler-320 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 13.494 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere. The Kepler-320 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 2 confirmed worlds, with Kepler-320 c sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside Kepler-320 b.
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-320 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 6,435 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.1080 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.0720 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 1.889 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.123 dex |
| Stellar Age | 2.140 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 13.494 · G: 13.434 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 2 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.142000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 17.935 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 86.1 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 80.9300° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 5.25 g/cm³ (15 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 101.6190 S⊕ (~138,303 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 2696.000 LY (826.613 pc) |