Kepler-384 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-384 b is a confirmed terrestrial exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-384, located approximately 2921.3 light-years (895.68 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 1.12 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 1.46 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 5.73 g/cm³ (a terrestrial silicate-iron composition comparable to Earth (5.51 g/cm³)), a surface gravity of 1.16 g⊕ (11.38 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 12.8 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-384, Kepler-384 b completes one full revolution every 22.597 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.148 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 71.3 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 670 K (+397°C / +747°F) and receiving 101.55 S⊕ (~138,208 W/m²), Kepler-384 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-384 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,577 K, a radius of 0.882 R☉, a mass of 0.882 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.675 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 12.88 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.29 dex (metal-poor relative to the Sun). From Earth, Kepler-384 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 13.734 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere. The Kepler-384 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 2 confirmed worlds, with Kepler-384 b sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside Kepler-384 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-384 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,577 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.8820 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.8820 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.675 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.290 dex |
| Stellar Age | 12.880 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 13.734 · G: 13.554 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 2 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.148000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 22.597 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 71.3 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.8700° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 5.73 g/cm³ (12.8 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 101.5490 S⊕ (~138,208 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 2921.300 LY (895.678 pc) |