Kepler-454 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-454 b is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-454, located approximately 753 light-years (230.87 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2015 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0415% across the stellar disk), this world measures 2.37 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 5.4 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 2.24 g/cm³ (an intermediate density indicative of a deep water-ice mantle or dense volatile envelope), a surface gravity of 0.96 g⊕ (9.41 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 16.9 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-454, Kepler-454 b completes one full revolution every 10.574 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.09528 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 98 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s). The planet follows a highly eccentric trajectory (e = 0.32, swinging from 0.0648 AU at periapsis out to 0.1258 AU at apoapsis), pointing to past dynamical scattering or secular gravitational perturbations.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 916 K (+643°C / +1189°F) and receiving 117.70 S⊕ (~160,190 W/m²), Kepler-454 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-454 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,687 K, a radius of 1.066 R☉, a mass of 1.03 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 1.066 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 5.25 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.32 dex (metal-rich relative to the Sun). From Earth, Kepler-454 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 11.567 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere. The Kepler-454 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 3 confirmed worlds, with Kepler-454 b sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside Kepler-454 c, Kepler-454 d.
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-454 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,687 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.0660 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.0300 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 1.066 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.320 dex |
| Stellar Age | 5.250 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 11.567 · G: 11.440 |
| System Architecture | 2 Stars, 3 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.095280 AU |
| Orbital Period | 10.574 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 98 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.32000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 87.9000° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 2.24 g/cm³ (16.9 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 117.7000 S⊕ (~160,190 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 753.000 LY (230.869 pc) |