Kepler-366 c
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-366 c is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-366, located approximately 6054.4 light-years (1856.28 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2014 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0245% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.79 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 3.86 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 3.71 g/cm³ (an intermediate density indicative of a deep water-ice mantle or dense volatile envelope), a surface gravity of 1.2 g⊕ (11.77 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 16.4 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-366, Kepler-366 c completes one full revolution every 12.516 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.11 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 95.6 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 848 K (+575°C / +1067°F) and receiving 286.60 S⊕ (~390,063 W/m²), Kepler-366 c orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-366 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 6,209 K, a radius of 1.048 R☉, a mass of 1.088 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 1.465 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 6.61 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.06 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, Kepler-366 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 14.952 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere. The Kepler-366 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 2 confirmed worlds, with Kepler-366 c sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside Kepler-366 b.
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-366 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 6,209 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.0480 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.0880 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 1.465 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.060 dex |
| Stellar Age | 6.610 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 14.952 · G: 14.790 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 2 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.110000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 12.516 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 95.6 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.9300° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 3.71 g/cm³ (16.4 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 286.6000 S⊕ (~390,063 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 6054.400 LY (1856.280 pc) |