Kepler-324 e
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-324 e 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 2021 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0512% across the stellar disk), this world measures 2.039 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 235.014 Earth masses (0.74 Jupiter masses). Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 152.87 g/cm³ (an iron-enriched, high-compression rocky core), a surface gravity of 56.53 g⊕ (554.37 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 120.1 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-324, Kepler-324 e completes one full revolution every 13.979 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.10972 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 85.4 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 635 K (+362°C / +684°F) and receiving 38.90 S⊕ (~52,943 W/m²), Kepler-324 e 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 5,191 K, a radius of 0.826 R☉, a mass of 0.844 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.444 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 3.39 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.08 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 e sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside Kepler-324 b, KOI-1831 d, Kepler-324 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-324 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,191 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.8260 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.8440 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.444 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.080 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) | 0.109720 AU |
| Orbital Period | 13.979 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 85.4 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 88.6000° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 152.87 g/cm³ (120.1 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 38.9000 S⊕ (~52,943 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 1635.900 LY (501.574 pc) |