Kepler-360 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-360 b is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-360, located approximately 2857.3 light-years (876.04 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2014 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0204% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.65 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 3.36 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 4.12 g/cm³ (a terrestrial silicate-iron composition comparable to Earth (5.51 g/cm³)), a surface gravity of 1.23 g⊕ (12.06 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 16 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-360, Kepler-360 b completes one full revolution every 3.29 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.044 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 145.5 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 1116 K (+843°C / +1549°F) and receiving 415.43 S⊕ (~565,406 W/m²), Kepler-360 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-360 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 6,053 K, a radius of 1.058 R☉, a mass of 0.994 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 1.348 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 1.41 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.15 dex (metal-rich relative to the Sun). From Earth, Kepler-360 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 15.011 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere. The Kepler-360 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 2 confirmed worlds, with Kepler-360 b sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside Kepler-360 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-360 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 6,053 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.0580 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.9940 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 1.348 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.150 dex |
| Stellar Age | 1.410 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 15.011 · G: 14.813 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 2 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.044000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 3.29 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 145.5 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.7300° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 4.12 g/cm³ (16 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 415.4340 S⊕ (~565,406 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 2857.300 LY (876.044 pc) |