Kepler-406 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-406 b is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-406, located approximately 1187.3 light-years (364.03 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2014 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.015% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.43 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 6.35 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 11.97 g/cm³ (an iron-enriched, high-compression rocky core), a surface gravity of 3.11 g⊕ (30.5 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 23.6 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-406, Kepler-406 b completes one full revolution every 2.426 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.03599 AU (an ultra-close orbit less than one-seventh of Mercury's 0.387 AU distance from the Sun, where strong stellar tidal forces typically induce synchronous rotation). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 161.4 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 1302 K (+1029°C / +1884°F) and receiving 826.93 S⊕ (~1,125,456 W/m²), Kepler-406 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-406 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,538 K, a radius of 1.07 R☉, a mass of 1.07 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.966 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 5.84 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.18 dex (metal-rich relative to the Sun). From Earth, Kepler-406 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 12.603 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere. The Kepler-406 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 2 confirmed worlds, with Kepler-406 b sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside Kepler-406 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-406 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,538 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.0700 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.0700 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.966 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.180 dex |
| Stellar Age | 5.840 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 12.603 · G: 12.490 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 2 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.035990 AU |
| Orbital Period | 2.426 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 161.4 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 82.3400° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 11.97 g/cm³ (23.6 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 826.9330 S⊕ (~1,125,456 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 1187.300 LY (364.030 pc) |