Kepler-52 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-52 b is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-52, located approximately 1048.7 light-years (321.54 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2012 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.1371% across the stellar disk), this world measures 2.1 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 135 Earth masses (0.42 Jupiter masses). Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 80.38 g/cm³ (an iron-enriched, high-compression rocky core), a surface gravity of 30.61 g⊕ (300.18 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 89.7 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-52, Kepler-52 b completes one full revolution every 7.877 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.0637 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 88 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 553 K (+280°C / +536°F) and receiving 22.72 S⊕ (~30,922 W/m²), Kepler-52 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-52 is classified as a low-mass red dwarf of spectral type M0 V with an effective photospheric temperature of 4,075 K, a radius of 0.52 R☉, a mass of 0.54 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.067 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 1.01 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, Kepler-52 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 15.513 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere. The Kepler-52 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 3 confirmed worlds, with Kepler-52 b sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside Kepler-52 c, Kepler-52 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-52 |
| Spectral Type | M0 V |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 4,075 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.5200 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.5400 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.067 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.000 dex |
| Stellar Age | 1.010 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 15.513 · G: 15.059 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 3 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.063700 AU |
| Orbital Period | 7.877 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 88 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.9200° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 80.38 g/cm³ (89.7 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 22.7200 S⊕ (~30,922 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 1048.700 LY (321.542 pc) |