Kepler-342 e
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-342 e is a confirmed terrestrial exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-342, located approximately 2549.3 light-years (781.61 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2016 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0036% across the stellar disk), this world measures 0.88 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 0.615 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 4.98 g/cm³ (a terrestrial silicate-iron composition comparable to Earth (5.51 g/cm³)), a surface gravity of 0.79 g⊕ (7.75 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 9.4 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-342, Kepler-342 e completes one full revolution every 1.644 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.02909 AU (an ultra-close orbit less than one-seventh of Mercury's 0.387 AU distance from the Sun, where strong stellar tidal forces typically induce synchronous rotation). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 192.5 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 1897 K (+1624°C / +2955°F) and receiving 3,111.32 S⊕ (~4,234,509 W/m²), Kepler-342 e orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-342 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 6,366 K, a radius of 1.34 R☉, a mass of 1.26 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 2.646 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 2.04 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.12 dex (metal-rich relative to the Sun). From Earth, Kepler-342 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 13.2 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere. The Kepler-342 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 4 confirmed worlds, with Kepler-342 e sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside Kepler-342 b, Kepler-342 c, Kepler-342 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-342 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 6,366 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.3400 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.2600 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 2.646 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.120 dex |
| Stellar Age | 2.040 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 13.200 · G: 13.099 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 4 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.029090 AU |
| Orbital Period | 1.644 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 192.5 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 58.9400° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 4.98 g/cm³ (9.4 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 3111.3220 S⊕ (~4,234,509 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 2549.300 LY (781.611 pc) |