Kepler-551 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-551 b is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-551, located approximately 1014.9 light-years (311.18 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2016 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.1578% across the stellar disk), this world measures 2.73 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 7.9 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 2.14 g/cm³ (an intermediate density indicative of a deep water-ice mantle or dense volatile envelope), a surface gravity of 1.06 g⊕ (10.4 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 19 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-551, Kepler-551 b completes one full revolution every 12.376 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.0893 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 78.5 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 483 K (+210°C / +410°F) and receiving 14.39 S⊕ (~19,579 W/m²), Kepler-551 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-551 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 4,286 K, a radius of 0.63 R☉, a mass of 0.65 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.12 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 3.8 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.09 dex (near-solar heavy-element abundance). From Earth, Kepler-551 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 15.278 (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-551 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 4,286 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.6300 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.6500 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.12 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.090 dex |
| Stellar Age | 3.800 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 15.278 · G: 14.860 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.089300 AU |
| Orbital Period | 12.376 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 78.5 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 89.1700° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 2.14 g/cm³ (19 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 14.3860 S⊕ (~19,579 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 1014.900 LY (311.175 pc) |