Kepler-416 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-416 b is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-416, located approximately 2253.1 light-years (690.82 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2014 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0447% across the stellar disk), this world measures 2.48 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 58.2 Earth masses (0.18 Jupiter masses). Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 21.04 g/cm³ (an iron-enriched, high-compression rocky core), a surface gravity of 9.46 g⊕ (92.77 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 54.2 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-416, Kepler-416 b completes one full revolution every 6.319 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.0674 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 116 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 986 K (+713°C / +1315°F) and receiving 224.09 S⊕ (~304,985 W/m²), Kepler-416 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-416 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,718 K, a radius of 1.075 R☉, a mass of 1 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 1.108 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 2.69 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.126 dex (metal-rich relative to the Sun). From Earth, Kepler-416 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 14.166 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere. The Kepler-416 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 3 confirmed worlds, with Kepler-416 b sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside Kepler-416 d, Kepler-416 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-416 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,718 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.0750 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.0000 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 1.108 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.126 dex |
| Stellar Age | 2.690 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 14.166 · G: 14.020 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 3 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.067400 AU |
| Orbital Period | 6.319 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 116 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 85.4200° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 21.04 g/cm³ (54.2 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 224.0890 S⊕ (~304,985 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 2253.100 LY (690.819 pc) |