Kepler-542 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-542 b is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-542, located approximately 1422.1 light-years (436.02 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2016 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0256% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.57 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 3.09 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 4.4 g/cm³ (a terrestrial silicate-iron composition comparable to Earth (5.51 g/cm³)), a surface gravity of 1.25 g⊕ (12.26 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 15.7 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-542, Kepler-542 b completes one full revolution every 13.145 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.10703 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 88.6 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 698 K (+425°C / +797°F) and receiving 61.57 S⊕ (~83,801 W/m²), Kepler-542 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-542 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,526 K, a radius of 0.9 R☉, a mass of 0.93 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.678 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 4.57 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.02 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, Kepler-542 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 13.606 (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-542 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,526 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.9000 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.9300 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.678 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.020 dex |
| Stellar Age | 4.570 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 13.606 · G: 13.416 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.107030 AU |
| Orbital Period | 13.145 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 88.6 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 88.5100° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 4.4 g/cm³ (15.7 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 61.5730 S⊕ (~83,801 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 1422.100 LY (436.016 pc) |