Kepler-379 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-379 b is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-379, located approximately 2385.1 light-years (731.27 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2014 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0136% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.66 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 3.39 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 4.09 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-379, Kepler-379 b completes one full revolution every 20.098 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.152 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 82.3 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 775 K (+502°C / +936°F) and receiving 90.35 S⊕ (~122,961 W/m²), Kepler-379 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-379 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 6,054 K, a radius of 1.306 R☉, a mass of 1.125 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 2.056 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 2.24 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.09 dex (metal-rich relative to the Sun). From Earth, Kepler-379 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 13.475 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere. The Kepler-379 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 2 confirmed worlds, with Kepler-379 b sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside Kepler-379 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-379 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 6,054 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.3060 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.1250 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 2.056 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.090 dex |
| Stellar Age | 2.240 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 13.475 · G: 13.369 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 2 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.152000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 20.098 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 82.3 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.9600° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 4.09 g/cm³ (16 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 90.3460 S⊕ (~122,961 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 2385.100 LY (731.274 pc) |