Kepler-549 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-549 b is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-549, located approximately 2071.6 light-years (635.15 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2016 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0787% across the stellar disk), this world measures 2.57 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 11 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 3.57 g/cm³ (an intermediate density indicative of a deep water-ice mantle or dense volatile envelope), a surface gravity of 1.67 g⊕ (16.38 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 23.1 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-549, Kepler-549 b completes one full revolution every 42.95 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.23236 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 58.9 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 487 K (+214°C / +417°F) and receiving 9.55 S⊕ (~12,996 W/m²), Kepler-549 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-549 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,360 K, a radius of 0.84 R☉, a mass of 0.88 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.523 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 4.57 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.03 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, Kepler-549 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 14.805 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere. The Kepler-549 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 3 confirmed worlds, with Kepler-549 b sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside Kepler-549 d, Kepler-549 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-549 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,360 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.8400 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.8800 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.523 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.030 dex |
| Stellar Age | 4.570 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 14.805 · G: 14.623 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 3 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.232360 AU |
| Orbital Period | 42.95 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 58.9 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.9900° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 3.57 g/cm³ (23.1 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 9.5490 S⊕ (~12,996 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 2071.600 LY (635.145 pc) |