Kepler-41 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-41 b is a confirmed gas giant exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-41, located approximately 3565.1 light-years (1093.08 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2011 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 1.0561% across the stellar disk), this world measures 14.46 Earth radii (1.29 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 177.98 Earth masses (0.56 Jupiter masses). Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 0.32 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 0.85 g⊕ (8.34 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 39.2 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-41, Kepler-41 b completes one full revolution every 1.856 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.03101 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 181.8 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 1790 K (+1517°C / +2763°F) and receiving 2,036.75 S⊕ (~2,772,015 W/m²), Kepler-41 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-41 is classified as a solar-type yellow star of spectral type G2 V with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,750 K, a radius of 1.29 R☉, a mass of 1.15 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 1.632 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 4.4 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.38 dex (metal-rich relative to the Sun). From Earth, Kepler-41 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 14.509 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere.
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-41 |
| Spectral Type | G2 V |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,750 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.2900 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.1500 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 1.632 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.380 dex |
| Stellar Age | 4.400 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 14.509 · G: 14.413 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.031010 AU |
| Orbital Period | 1.856 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 181.8 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 82.5100° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 0.32 g/cm³ (39.2 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 2036.7490 S⊕ (~2,772,015 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 3565.100 LY (1093.080 pc) |