Kepler-46 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-46 b is a confirmed gas giant exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-46, located approximately 2534.4 light-years (777.06 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2012 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.7836% across the stellar disk), this world measures 9.057 Earth radii (0.81 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 1907 Earth masses (6 Jupiter masses). Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 14.15 g/cm³ (an iron-enriched, high-compression rocky core), a surface gravity of 23.25 g⊕ (228 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 162.3 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-46, Kepler-46 b completes one full revolution every 33.601 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.1968 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 63.7 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s). With a near-circular eccentricity of e = 0.01 (ranging from 0.1948 AU at periapsis to 0.1988 AU at apoapsis), the planet experiences minimal orbital distance variation.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 543 K (+270°C / +518°F) and receiving 10.90 S⊕ (~14,835 W/m²), Kepler-46 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-46 is classified as an orange K-type star of spectral type K with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,155 K, a radius of 0.938 R☉, a mass of 0.902 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.557 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 9.7 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.41 dex (metal-rich relative to the Sun). From Earth, Kepler-46 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 15.312 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere. The Kepler-46 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 3 confirmed worlds, with Kepler-46 b sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside Kepler-46 d, Kepler-46 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-46 |
| Spectral Type | K |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,155 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.9380 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.9020 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.557 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.410 dex |
| Stellar Age | 9.700 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 15.312 · G: 15.255 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 3 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.196800 AU |
| Orbital Period | 33.601 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 63.7 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.01000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.0380° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 14.15 g/cm³ (162.3 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 10.9000 S⊕ (~14,835 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 2534.400 LY (777.060 pc) |