Kepler-453 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-453 b is a confirmed gas giant exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-453, located approximately 1444.4 light-years (442.85 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2015 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.4662% across the stellar disk), this world measures 6.204 Earth radii (0.55 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 16 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 0.37 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 0.42 g⊕ (4.12 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 18 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-453, Kepler-453 b completes one full revolution every 240.503 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.7903 AU (comparable to the inner terrestrial zone between Venus, Earth at 1.00 AU, and Mars at 1.52 AU). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 35.7 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s). With a near-circular eccentricity of e = 0.0359 (ranging from 0.7619 AU at periapsis to 0.8187 AU at apoapsis), the planet experiences minimal orbital distance variation.
☁️ Atmospheric Regime (Volatile / Gas Envelope): With a radius of 6.204 R⊕, Kepler-453 b 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-453 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,527 K, a radius of 0.833 R☉, a mass of 0.944 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.581 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 2.49 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.09 dex (metal-rich relative to the Sun). From Earth, Kepler-453 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 13.672 (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-453 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,527 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.8330 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.9440 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.581 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.090 dex |
| Stellar Age | 2.490 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 13.672 · G: 13.523 |
| System Architecture | 2 Stars, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.790300 AU |
| Orbital Period | 240.503 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 35.7 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.03590 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.4429° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 0.37 g/cm³ (18 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 0.9636 S⊕ (~1,311 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 1444.400 LY (442.846 pc) |