Kepler-541 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-541 b is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-541, located approximately 3459.5 light-years (1060.68 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2016 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0224% across the stellar disk), this world measures 3.36 Earth radii (0.3 Jupiter radii) and has a measured mass of 11.2 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 1.63 g/cm³ (a low bulk density dominated by an extended hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope), a surface gravity of 0.99 g⊕ (9.71 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 20.4 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-541, Kepler-541 b completes one full revolution every 5.08 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.06447 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 138.1 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 1673 K (+1400°C / +2552°F) and receiving 1,452.90 S⊕ (~1,977,402 W/m²), Kepler-541 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-541 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 6,166 K, a radius of 2.06 R☉, a mass of 1.41 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 5.503 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 3.09 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.07 dex (metal-rich relative to the Sun). From Earth, Kepler-541 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 13.383 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere.
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-541 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 6,166 K |
| Stellar Radius | 2.0600 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.4100 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 5.503 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.070 dex |
| Stellar Age | 3.090 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 13.383 · G: 13.228 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.064470 AU |
| Orbital Period | 5.08 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 138.1 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 83.8500° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 1.63 g/cm³ (20.4 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 1452.9040 S⊕ (~1,977,402 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 3459.500 LY (1060.680 pc) |