Kepler-326 c
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-326 c is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-326, located approximately 1590.6 light-years (487.68 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2014 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0257% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.4 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 17.4 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 34.96 g/cm³ (an iron-enriched, high-compression rocky core), a surface gravity of 8.88 g⊕ (87.08 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 39.4 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-326, Kepler-326 c completes one full revolution every 4.58 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.051 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 121.1 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 889 K (+616°C / +1141°F) and receiving 303.62 S⊕ (~413,227 W/m²), Kepler-326 c orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-326 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,105 K, a radius of 0.801 R☉, a mass of 0.91 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.391 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 13.18 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.239 dex (metal-rich relative to the Sun). From Earth, Kepler-326 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 13.734 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere. The Kepler-326 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 3 confirmed worlds, with Kepler-326 c sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside Kepler-326 b, Kepler-326 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-326 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,105 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.8010 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.9100 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.391 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.239 dex |
| Stellar Age | 13.180 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 13.734 · G: 13.679 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 3 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.051000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 4.58 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 121.1 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 88.6000° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 34.96 g/cm³ (39.4 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 303.6200 S⊕ (~413,227 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 1590.600 LY (487.675 pc) |