Kepler-432 c
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-432 c is a confirmed gas giant exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-432, located approximately 2765.9 light-years (848.02 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2015 by Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory using the Radial Velocity detection technique (measuring periodic Doppler reflex motion in the host star's spectrum), this world measures 13.3 Earth radii (1.19 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 772.327 Earth masses (2.43 Jupiter masses). Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 1.81 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 4.37 g⊕ (42.86 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 85.2 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-432, Kepler-432 c completes one full revolution every 406.2 Earth days (1.11Julian years). The planet follows a highly eccentric trajectory (e = 0.498), pointing to past dynamical scattering or secular gravitational perturbations.
☁️ Atmospheric Regime (Volatile / Gas Envelope): With a radius of 13.300 R⊕, Kepler-432 c exceeds the empirical ~1.8–2.2 R⊕ Fulton radius valley threshold, indicating a substantial hydrogen-helium or supercritical volatile envelope without a conventional solid terrestrial surface.
The host star Kepler-432 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 4,995 K, a radius of 4.06 R☉, a mass of 1.32 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 9.206 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 4.2 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.07 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, Kepler-432 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 12.398 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere. The Kepler-432 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 2 confirmed worlds, with Kepler-432 c sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside Kepler-432 b.
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: Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory · Catalogue Source: NASA Exoplanet Archive (IPAC / Caltech).
☀️ Host Star Telemetry
| Host Star Name | Kepler-432 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 4,995 K |
| Stellar Radius | 4.0600 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.3200 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 9.206 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.070 dex |
| Stellar Age | 4.200 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 12.398 · G: 12.182 |
| System Architecture | 2 Stars, 2 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | — |
| Orbital Period | 406.2 days |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.49800 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | — |
| Mean Bulk Density | 1.81 g/cm³ (85.2 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | — |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 2765.900 LY (848.023 pc) |