Kepler-462 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-462 b is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-462, located approximately 1945.9 light-years (596.63 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2016 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0307% across the stellar disk), this world measures 3 Earth radii (0.27 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 53.9 Earth masses (0.17 Jupiter masses). Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 11.01 g/cm³ (an iron-enriched, high-compression rocky core), a surface gravity of 5.99 g⊕ (58.74 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 47.4 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-462, Kepler-462 b completes one full revolution every 84.687 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.4172 AU (situated at an orbital separation between Mercury's 0.39 AU and Venus's 0.72 AU). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 53.6 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s). With a near-circular eccentricity of e = 0.042 (ranging from 0.3997 AU at periapsis to 0.4347 AU at apoapsis), the planet experiences minimal orbital distance variation.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 611 K (+338°C / +640°F) and receiving 31.27 S⊕ (~42,557 W/m²), Kepler-462 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-462 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 7,500 K, a radius of 1.57 R☉, a mass of 1.59 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 6.997 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 0.5 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.05 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, Kepler-462 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 11.632 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere. The Kepler-462 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 2 confirmed worlds, with Kepler-462 b sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside Kepler-462 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-462 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 7,500 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.5700 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.5900 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 6.997 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.050 dex |
| Stellar Age | 0.500 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 11.632 · G: 11.615 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 2 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.417200 AU |
| Orbital Period | 84.687 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 53.6 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.04200 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.3400° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 11.01 g/cm³ (47.4 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 31.2690 S⊕ (~42,557 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 1945.900 LY (596.625 pc) |