Kepler-50 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-50 b is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-50, located approximately 815.7 light-years (250.11 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2012 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0098% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.71 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 8.9 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 9.81 g/cm³ (an iron-enriched, high-compression rocky core), a surface gravity of 3.04 g⊕ (29.81 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 25.5 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-50, Kepler-50 b completes one full revolution every 7.813 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.077 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 107.2 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s). The orbit is modeled as circular (e = 0.00), maintaining a constant stellar distance throughout its year.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 1196 K (+923°C / +1693°F) and receiving 494.71 S⊕ (~673,294 W/m²), Kepler-50 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-50 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 6,225 K, a radius of 1.58 R☉, a mass of 1.24 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 3.363 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 3.8 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.03 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, Kepler-50 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 10.544 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere. The Kepler-50 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 2 confirmed worlds, with Kepler-50 b sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside Kepler-50 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-50 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 6,225 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.5800 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.2400 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 3.363 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.030 dex |
| Stellar Age | 3.800 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 10.544 · G: 10.362 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 2 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.077000 AU |
| Orbital Period | 7.813 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 107.2 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.8800° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 9.81 g/cm³ (25.5 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 494.7050 S⊕ (~673,294 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 815.700 LY (250.110 pc) |