Kepler-435 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-435 b is a confirmed gas giant exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-435, located approximately 4627.4 light-years (1418.77 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2015 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.406% across the stellar disk), this world measures 22.31 Earth radii (1.99 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 266.97 Earth masses (0.84 Jupiter masses). Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 0.13 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 0.54 g⊕ (5.3 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 38.7 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-435, Kepler-435 b completes one full revolution every 8.6 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.0948 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 119.9 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s). Its moderate orbital eccentricity of e = 0.114 carries the world between 0.084 AU at periapsis and 0.1056 AU at apoapsis, driving measurable seasonal insolation cycles.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 1729 K (+1456°C / +2653°F) and receiving 677.92 S⊕ (~922,645 W/m²), Kepler-435 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-435 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 6,161 K, a radius of 3.21 R☉, a mass of 1.538 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 13.32 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 2.25 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.18 dex (metal-poor relative to the Sun). From Earth, Kepler-435 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 13.704 (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-435 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 6,161 K |
| Stellar Radius | 3.2100 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.5380 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 13.32 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.180 dex |
| Stellar Age | 2.250 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 13.704 · G: 13.604 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.094800 AU |
| Orbital Period | 8.6 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 119.9 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.11400 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 85.5100° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 0.13 g/cm³ (38.7 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 677.9170 S⊕ (~922,645 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 4627.400 LY (1418.770 pc) |