Kepler-372 d
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-372 d is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-372, located approximately 4872.6 light-years (1493.95 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2014 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0186% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.69 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 3.5 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 4 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 16.1 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-372, Kepler-372 d completes one full revolution every 30.093 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.201 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 72.7 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 660 K (+387°C / +729°F) and receiving 53.47 S⊕ (~72,774 W/m²), Kepler-372 d orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-372 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 6,509 K, a radius of 1.137 R☉, a mass of 1.202 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 2.082 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 2.349 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.13 dex (metal-poor relative to the Sun). From Earth, Kepler-372 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 14.928 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere. The Kepler-372 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 3 confirmed worlds, with Kepler-372 d sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside Kepler-372 b, Kepler-372 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-372 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 6,509 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.1370 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.2020 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 2.082 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.130 dex |
| Stellar Age | 2.349 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 14.928 · G: 14.834 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 3 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.201000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 30.093 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 72.7 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 86.7300° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 4 g/cm³ (16.1 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 53.4710 S⊕ (~72,774 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 4872.600 LY (1493.950 pc) |