Kepler-324 c
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-324 c is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-324, located approximately 1635.9 light-years (501.57 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2014 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.1182% across the stellar disk), this world measures 3.15 Earth radii (0.28 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 6.2 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 1.09 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 0.62 g⊕ (6.08 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 15.7 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-324, Kepler-324 c completes one full revolution every 51.806 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.26 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 54.6 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 410 K (+137°C / +279°F) and receiving 7.23 S⊕ (~9,844 W/m²), Kepler-324 c orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-324 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,194 K, a radius of 0.84 R☉, a mass of 0.901 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.461 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 3.39 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.18 dex (metal-rich relative to the Sun). From Earth, Kepler-324 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 14.222 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere. The Kepler-324 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 4 confirmed worlds, with Kepler-324 c sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside Kepler-324 b, Kepler-324 e, KOI-1831 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-324 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,194 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.8400 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.9010 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.461 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.180 dex |
| Stellar Age | 3.390 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 14.222 · G: 14.091 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 4 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.260000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 51.806 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 54.6 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.7500° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 1.09 g/cm³ (15.7 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 7.2330 S⊕ (~9,844 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 1635.900 LY (501.574 pc) |