Kepler-376 c
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-376 c is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-376, located approximately 3010.6 light-years (923.07 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2014 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0195% 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-376, Kepler-376 c completes one full revolution every 14.172 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.115 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 88.3 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 873 K (+600°C / +1112°F) and receiving 168.29 S⊕ (~229,043 W/m²), Kepler-376 c orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-376 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,900 K, a radius of 1.175 R☉, a mass of 0.968 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 1.501 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 1.91 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.104 dex (metal-poor relative to the Sun). From Earth, Kepler-376 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 13.86 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere. The Kepler-376 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 2 confirmed worlds, with Kepler-376 c sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside Kepler-376 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-376 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,900 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.1750 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.9680 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 1.501 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.104 dex |
| Stellar Age | 1.910 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 13.860 · G: 13.734 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 2 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.115000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 14.172 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 88.3 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 87.7100° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 3.71 g/cm³ (16.4 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 168.2900 S⊕ (~229,043 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 3010.600 LY (923.067 pc) |